Toki Suntory Whisky

Thank you to /u/distillasian for pouring me this sample.

So one day I started ranting to my whisky friends about Toki Suntory Whisky.

Why?

Because we’re a bunch of snobs who have had cask strength, age stated, now long gone/way too expensive Japanese whisky. And during this Japanese whisky boom, where everyone and their mother will tell you that “Scotch is dead” and “It’s the best”, the whisky doesn’t hold up to the hype.

Toki Suntory Whisky shows up in videos, talks, etc. all the time. It’s a blend of Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita, it’s readily available, and there are cocktail recipes for it. It’s everywhere and that bugs me because I feel the Japanese whisky’s popularity is due to the heavy hitters I mentioned before.

So I finish my rant, and my friends don’t disagree with it, per se. No, they disagree with the fact I haven’t reviewed it, and am arguing from a lack of personal knowledge. Fair. So let’s review it. To start a tasting we had.

Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: $54.95 CAD at the LCBO

Region: Japan

Abv: 43%

Colour: 2.5GY 9/4

Nose: Grassy, lemon, floral

Ok. Light. Very light. Nothing off. It takes some time to really find anything. It’s closer to a Lowland with grass and lemon and some floral.

Impressed this has any grain in it. Also surprised it has anything in it, as it’s barely there.

Taste: Caramel, floral, lemon, cardamon

Ok, more citrus, floral, and a small amount of caramel.

That said, very light flavours. You have to go hunting. Add water? Nope, still the same. Add a stupid amount of water? Still the same. 7x the amount of water? Still there. I’m not even mad, I’m impressed.

Finish: Earth, lemon, grass, malt

The finish continues with more of the same, but with more earth, no spice, and malty, reminding you this is, in fact, a whisky and not lemon water you have on a hot day while dieting.

Conclusion: Doesn’t lose flavour even with tons of water. Look, I’m an asshole for slagging this off without trying it. Was I right? Yes. It’s not an amazing whisky, it’s made for mixing, it’s full of lemon, and I think you’d be happier using it in cocktails or highballs. Am I still an asshole? Fucking right.

Because I missed the idea behind this whisky. You mix it with water, drink it on a hot day, have some alcohol, and maybe not sleep in the street after a 14-hour workday. That’s it. If you want the legendary stuff, save up your pennies for something else.

64/100

World Whisky review #370, Japan review #40, Whisky review #1775