[PR]

山崎旧ボトル。10年12年のラベル変更違いと買取のポイント

Old Yamazaki bottles. Differences in label changes between 2010 and 2012 and points to consider when purchasing

Linksus Liquor Store
Yamazaki is a Japanese whiskey that is loved all over the world. In fact, did you know that in addition to the standard products, there are also rare items called old bottles and old labels? Yamazaki's old labels are rarer than the current products and are traded at high prices on the market. They are expected to sell at high prices at specialized buy-back stores.
This article will focus on the old Yamazaki bottles and labels . It is a must-read for those who want to know the differences, why they are loved, and their value.
Buy whiskey here

What is Yamazaki with the old bottle and old label? Rare Yamazaki that is no longer on sale

The old bottle and old label Yamazaki refers to the old designs of Yamazaki that are no longer being released. They are all still single malt whiskeys produced at the Yamazaki distillery, but they are attracting attention from enthusiasts as bottles that are no longer on sale.
The Yamazaki brand was first launched in 1984. At the time, the Liquor Tax Act was different from what it is today, and the label notation was also different. Since then, Yamazaki's label design has gradually changed in response to revisions to the Liquor Tax Act and the growth and change of the brand.
This means that there have been different labels for "Yamazaki" over the years , and that there are multiple types of Yamazaki with the same name. For example, "Yamazaki 12 Year Old," which is still on sale, has both the current design and the old label design.

Why is Yamazaki beer with the old label so popular? There are differences in appearance and taste

There is a high demand for old labels from collectors.

There is a high demand for old labels from collectors.
The reason why Yamazaki with the old label is so popular is that it is highly rare . The production of the old label stopped when they switched to the new label, so there are no new products. The longer it has been since its release, the more rare it becomes, and its value has increased to the point where it can be priced at a premium to the list price . Some bottles are even priced at hundreds of thousands of yen each.
These old-label Yamazakis are purchased in great numbers by people known as whisky collectors. Moreover, in recent years, the value of Japanese whisky itself has risen, and the Yamazaki brand itself has been attracting a lot of attention. In addition to whisky collectors, there are many people who aim to purchase for the purposes of "whisky investment" or "whisky resale," and the old-label Yamazakis, which have seen a rapid rise in price, are especially popular .
Liquor sales link sus The future of whisky investment is barrel cask and fund investment trust. Disadvantages and recommended brands
Whisky, made by distilling grains, is an alcoholic drink that is popular around the world. Whisky from Scotland and Japan in particular has a good reputation, and is also famous for its remarkable price rise due to its rarity. Such whiskey is…

Not only does it look different, but it also changes the taste and aroma of the whiskey inside.

The old label Yamazaki is not just different in appearance, but also in the raw liquor used, and it is said that the taste and aroma are different from the current product.
Whisky liquor is made through the process of distillation and aging. Naturally, the potential of the liquor itself varies depending on the era in which it was made. Yamazaki also excels in vatting techniques, blending multiple liquors in a well-balanced way. Although the specific blend ratios have not been officially revealed, it is expected that the blend ratios have changed over time due to the different properties of the liquors.
In other words, the appeal of the old-label Yamazaki is that you can enjoy a taste that is not available in the current product. Incidentally, there are other brands of whiskey with "old labels" like this one, too.

Differences between the old and new labels of Yamazaki 12 Year Old! Changes and sales period

Yamazaki 12 Year Old, which has a long history as a Yamazaki aged product, has had its labels changed many times over the years. Even among the bottles with the old labels, there are several different types depending on the time of sale.
From here, we will explain the changes to the Yamazaki 12 year old label .

[Mid 1980s] Yamazaki 12 Year Special

When Yamazaki 12 Year was released in the mid-1980s, it was labeled "Special Grade Whisky." This is often called "Yamazaki 12 Year Special Grade" and is considered highly valued among the older bottles. It features a lion emblem facing each other and no gold frame on the label . In the very early days, there were bottles that had the special grade label but no age notation.
By the way, Yamazaki from this time had a volume of 760ml, which is slightly larger than the current Yamazaki . Since it is an old label, many of the labels available today have a dull color.
Retail prices often depend on the condition of the bottle, but on online shops, used items can be found priced at around 80,000 yen. Factors that affect the price include whether the liquid level has dropped, whether the bottle has an outer box, and how dirty the bottle is .

[April 1989~] Yamazaki 12 Year Pure Malt Lion Mark

After April 1989, when the Liquor Tax Law was revised, the special grade designation was abolished. However , the emblem in the upper left corner remains the lion, and the label says "Pure Malt ." Yamazaki 12 Year Old from this time is called "Yamazaki 12 Year Old Pure Malt Lion Mark."
In the era of the Pure Malt Lion Mark, a gold frame was added to the label compared to the era of the special grade label. The lion mark is only attached to older bottles of Yamazaki 12 Year Old, so it is one of the criteria to remember when identifying rare bottles.
The Pure Malt Lion Mark Yamazaki 12 Year Old is also expensive, costing around 70,000 to 80,000 yen for a second-hand bottle . By the way, this bottle has a volume of 750ml.

[1990s to 2003] Yamazaki 12 Year Pure Malt Hibiki Mark

The product that was widely distributed in the 1990s was Yamazaki 12 Year Old Pure Malt with the Hibiki mark. Unlike the current product, it still has the "Pure Malt" label, and the emblem in the upper left corner has changed from a lion to a flower design called "Digital Hibiki" .
The era of the Hibiki mark continued for a while from this point on. It's important to remember that the Hibiki mark is the second oldest sign of Yamazaki after the Facing Lion. The era of the Hibiki mark was long, continuing into the 2000s and beyond . The fact that the word Pure Malt is written among the English letters is proof that it is a particularly old bottle . The era of the Pure Malt label continued until around 2003.

[Around 2003-2004] Yamazaki 12 Year Pure Malt & Single Malt Hibiki Mark

From 2003 to 2004, the label of the same Yamazaki Pure Malt Hibiki mark was updated to include the notation "Single Malt." Other slight changes have been made to keep up with the times, such as the addition of a recycling mark to the plastic cap and a change to the display on the back label.
The bottles labeled "Pure Malt & Single Malt" were rarely in circulation , so they are highly sought after by collectors. This is a rare Yamazaki bottle that lets you feel the passage of time.

[2004~] Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Old Label

Since 2004, Yamazaki has been labeled as "single malt" instead of "pure malt" . However, even in this era, the labels are still different from the current products. In more detail, there are three types of Yamazaki 12 Year Old Label labeled as single malt.
  • From 2004 to around 2007: Label is vertically long, digital Hibiki mark remains
  • From 2007 to 2009: The Hibiki mark was abolished, but the label shape remained long.
  • From 2009 to 2011: The cap seal says "single malt," but the label doesn't say "Japanese."

[Current product] Yamazaki 12 years

Old Yamazaki bottles. Differences in label changes between 2010 and 2012 and points to consider when purchasing
Suntory Single Malt Yamazaki 12 Year 700ml
Linksus Liquor Store
Search on Rakuten Market
Search on Amazon
Yamazaki Purchase
The current Yamazaki 12 Year Old is labeled "SINGLE MALT JAPANESE WHISKY. " The "JAPANESE" label, which was not previously included, is the most obvious way to tell the difference .
Compared to the old Yamazaki label, it is easier to get hold of and is not as rare. However, it is still a popular product, and it is said that it can only be purchased by taking part in a lottery sale.
Another advantage is that it is easier to get new, not second-hand, products because it is a current product. It is also recommended to compare the difference between the old label and the current product.
Liquor sales link sus Whisky lottery sale 2023 edition! Where to buy at regular price: Takashimaya, Yodobashi, or Bic Camera?
Whisky has become increasingly popular in the past few years to the past decade. There are many rare items that are considered premium items, and some bottles are difficult to purchase in general sales. Rare whiskeys are sold by lottery, and in order to obtain them at a low price, you must enter the lottery…

Yamazaki 10 Year Old is no longer on sale! We investigated the differences in the labels

Speaking of Yamazaki's old labels, in addition to Yamazaki 12 Year Old, Yamazaki 10 Year Old is also being talked about. Yamazaki 10 Year Old is no longer part of the official lineup and is no longer on sale , so all bottles in existence are old label products.
There are differences in the old labels of Yamazaki 10 Year Old depending on the era. Specifically, there is the "Yamazaki 10 Year Old Green Label" and the "Yamazaki 10 Year Old White Label", so let's take a look at them.

[1995-2004] Yamazaki 10 Year Green Label

Yamazaki 10 Year Old was first released around 1995. At that time, it was labeled "Pure Malt" like the old label of Yamazaki 12 Year Old. Because the label color was green, it has become common to call it "Yamazaki 10 Year Old Green Label."
This whiskey is made from whiskey aged for over 10 years, and was popular because it allowed people to easily enjoy the aged flavor of Yamazaki. However, although it was a cheap bottle when it was first released, it is now out of stock and has become so rare that it is priced at around 30,000 to 50,000 yen per bottle .

[2004 - March 2013] Yamazaki 10 Year White Label

Yamazaki 10 Year Old had a label change in February 2004. After the change, the previous green label was changed to a white label. Due to the difference in appearance, it is called "Yamazaki 10 Year Old White Label".
Yamazaki 10 Year White Label was sadly discontinued at the end of March 2013. There are many reasons for its discontinuation, but the biggest factor is said to be the sudden rise in popularity of whiskey, which led to a shortage of raw liquor .
Currently, the non-aged Yamazaki NV has been released instead. However, non-aged and Yamazaki 10 Year are clearly different products, and Yamazaki 10 Year has a unique appeal that only Yamazaki 10 Year can offer. Yamazaki 10 Year White Label, which is popular among enthusiasts and collectors, is seeing a rise in price, just like Green Label Yamazaki.
Liquor sales link sus Yamazaki whiskey is likely to rise in price. Price trends over 2012, 2018 and 2025
In recent years, the soaring prices of Japanese whiskey have become a hot topic. In particular, Suntory's Yamazaki has been priced at several times its retail price. This time, we will explain about Yamazaki whiskey, which has been attracting attention at auctions and other events.

Points to note when purchasing old labels such as Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Points to note when purchasing old labels such as Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Old-label Yamazaki beer sells for a high price

Old-label Yamazaki can be sold for a higher price than current-label Yamazaki. As mentioned earlier, it is now difficult to even obtain, and its rarity value has increased. The appraisal value varies depending on the type and condition of the bottle, but it is not uncommon for a single bottle to be priced at tens of thousands of yen.
If you have unopened old Yamazaki bottles at home, why not consult with a liquor purchase specialist store for a purchase appraisal ? If you are thinking of organizing your collection or sorting out your belongings, please take advantage of our advantageous liquor purchase service instead of disposing of them as they are.

Tips for high-value purchase of old Yamazaki labels

Tips for high-value purchase of old Yamazaki labels
Since the old Yamazaki labels are no longer on sale, all of them are treated as "second-hand goods." When buying or selling, the price varies greatly depending on the condition of the product.
In order to get the highest possible price for your item, it is important to first keep it in good condition . Keep in mind that if all accessories, such as the outer box, are included, the appraisal value will be higher. If the item has been stored for a long time and is dirty or dusty, it is important to wipe it dry and keep it clean.
Even if the whiskey is unopened, the liquid level of old whiskey may decrease depending on the storage conditions. A decrease in the liquid level will lead to a reduction in the appraisal value, so be careful. Please try to store it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Leave the purchase of old Yamazaki labels to the liquor purchase specialist store Linksus

Leave the purchase of old Yamazaki labels to the liquor purchase specialist store Linksus There are a wide variety of old Yamazaki labels. When assessing a bottle for purchase, it is important to correctly determine which era the bottle is from and how much it is worth.
At Linksus, a liquor buying specialty store , you can rest assured that we have appraisers with extensive knowledge of liquor and whiskey such as Yamazaki . We will give you an accurate price for your old Yamazaki label after carefully examining the differences between pure malt and single malt, the lion mark and digital Hibiki mark, the cap design, and details of the back label.
Linkuss offers three types of alcohol purchase services: in-store purchase, home delivery purchase, and on-site purchase , and can be used from anywhere in the country with no handling fees. We also respond to inquiries such as "I just want to know the price first" and "I have a question about the appraisal and would like to consult with you," so please feel free to contact us first.
Buy whiskey here

summary

There are more than five types of bottles with old Yamazaki labels. Generally, the older the bottle, the more rare it is, and the higher the selling price and appraisal price tend to be.
The old labels and bottles are not only different in design, but they are also said to have different liquor compositions and flavors from the current product. Although they are rare, we recommend that you compare them if you have the opportunity.
Back to blog