Suntory whiskies

History

Shinjiro Torii founded a wine business in Osaka at the end of the 19th century, which succeeded with a sweet wine. His dream was to create a Japanese whisky, and in 1923 he built the Yamazaki distillery, with Masataka Taketsuru on board at first, who would later found Nikka. The first whisky came out at the end of the 1920s, and in the 1930s came Kakubin, a blend that became a classic in Japan. In the 1960s the company adopted the name Suntory. In the 1980s it launched Hibiki, and in the 2010s it bought Beam, one of the big bourbon groups.

House style

The style of Suntory’s blends seeks harmony: they combine Yamazaki and Hakushu malts with Chita grain, and use a wide variety of casks, such as Japanese mizunara oak, sherry, plum wine and bourbon. Hibiki is elegant and floral, with honey, orange, white chocolate and a touch of sandalwood. Toki is light and fresh, with green apple, mint and vanilla. It is a style that puts balance before intensity.

Where to start

Suntory Toki is the most affordable way in and is designed for the highball, with plenty of ice and soda. Hibiki Japanese Harmony is an elegant, very aromatic blend, to drink neat or with an ice cube. Trying them one after the other shows two sides of the house. If you like them, the next step is the house malts: Yamazaki, richer and fruitier, and Hakushu, fresher and greener. Both help you understand where the character of the blends comes from.

• Suntory TokiBlend · 43% ABV
• Hibiki Japanese HarmonyBlend · 43% ABV