Ok, so this is not necessary a “craft” place anymore since they are so crazy massive, but I had to put my favorite distillery on the map since I did get the crazy privilege of visiting the last time I was in Japan.
I was able to take a bullet train out from Tokyo to Kyoto, then another train to Yamazaki. After getting off the train it was a short walk (through what felt like a Karate Kid backlot) to the distillery. I was sort of giddy walking up – I had been looking forward to this for a long time!
When I got there I found out there was an earlier tour I could hop in with so I did that. Really cool to walk around and see how it’s all made. So much care and history to it all. At the end of the tour they took us into a room and taught us how to make an authentic highball. We then got to taste a few of their classics.
Once the tour was over I went down to the real tasting room (after killing my credit card at the gift shop) and was able to taste a 30 year Yamazaki. Seriously one of the most amazing whisky’s I’ve ever tasted. I had to sit there for a few minutes and just take it all in. It was a definite highlight for me and a day I won’t soon forget.
