No email gets re-read as many times as a ballot-win confirmation. The subject line in my inbox read "[Important] Round 1: You've won the right to buy one bottle of Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki Story of the Distillery 2026 Edition" — the moment I spotted the word "won," I said something out loud. As I wrote in Four Japanese whiskies on my shelf, Yamazaki is my favourite Japanese whisky. Having a limited Yamazaki edition come my way made the win feel that much sweeter.
This wasn't a "whisky lottery" (the specialty-shop raffle where one of several bottles ships at random). It was Suntory's official ballot: you apply during the window, and only winners get to buy at list price. Applications ran in two rounds, and I drew it in Round 1 (16–31 March 2026). A few weeks later a "your order has shipped" email arrived and the bottle was finally in my hands. It went on sale 26 May 2026 at ¥17,600, 700ml, 43% ABV. Compared with my Chichibu won in a whisky lottery, this is a different kind of joy — the "applied head-on and luck turned my way" kind.
The third release, with "Minase Falls" on Echizen washi
Story of the Distillery is a limited series that tells, one bottle at a time, the craft and stories of the Yamazaki Distillery. The 2026 Edition is the third release, themed around why the Yamazaki site is ideal for making whisky. The label and gift box feature "Minase Falls," a celebrated water spot near the distillery, drawn in Echizen washi, a traditional Japanese paper from Fukui. The texture of the paper and the ink-style waterfall make it a genuinely pleasing thing to own.
The Yamazaki Distillery itself was opened in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet, in Shimamoto, Osaka — Japan's first malt whisky distillery, as the back label notes ("The oldest distillery in Japan"). Good water and a humid, river-mist climate: this edition puts that "advantage of the land" centre stage.
I don't know the taste yet
To be honest, I haven't opened this bottle. Precisely because it's a favourite, pouring it on an ordinary evening would feel like a waste. I plan to keep it sealed for a special day. So I won't put words in my own mouth about the taste here — when I do open it, I'll add a note alongside whatever day it turns out to be.
Instead, here is Suntory's official tasting note for the 2026 Edition. Colour: reddish amber. Nose: the rich sweetness of dried persimmon with a clove accent. Palate: rich and complex, with orange marmalade and red-bean sweetness. Finish: smoky and spicy, with a long, complex aftertaste. How the Yamazaki-signature mizunara character shows up is exactly what I'm looking forward to.
There's no rush to drink a Yamazaki you won in a ballot. Sitting on the shelf with that waterfall on the box, it already plays its part as "the special bottle." The cork will come out on a day worth celebrating.
Yamazaki Story of the Distillery 2026, in context
The Story of the Distillery series
A limited series that distils the history, nature and craft of the Yamazaki Distillery into one bottle a year, with a changing theme. The 2026 Edition is the third release, themed on why the Yamazaki land is ideal for whisky-making, with "Minase Falls" rendered in Echizen washi on the label and box.
The basics
700ml / 43% ABV / ¥17,600 / on sale 26 May 2026, limited quantity. No age statement. The official note: reddish amber; dried persimmon and clove on the nose; orange marmalade and red-bean sweetness on the palate; a long, smoky finish.
Suntory's official ballot
Because list-price routes for limited Yamazaki bottlings are scarce, Suntory's official site runs ballot sales. The 2026 Edition took applications in two rounds (16–31 March and 1–16 April), one entry per person per round. Winners buy at list price. On the secondary market it often goes well above retail, so the win itself carries value.
The lottery-only 2026 Edition doesn't reach normal retail, but Yamazaki's standard line is available on Amazon.co.jp (often above list price given the demand). If you just want "a bottle of Yamazaki," the world opens up in the order NV → 12 Years → 18 Years.
