Suntory Old Whisky (1x 700mL), Japan

Suntory Old Whisky (1x 700mL), Japan

Suntory Old Whisky is a series of whiskies from Suntory, first released in 1950 when it was considered the classiest of all of Suntory’s whiskies. Suntory Old Whisky is darker in colour with a balanced nose of malt, honey, vanilla and wood. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweetness and coffee notes. The finish is medium to long.

A popular mid-market blend of whisky from Suntory which is affordable and ideal for whisky lovers. Produced as early as 1940, it first came on the market in 1950 and gained much popularity in the post-war era. Many believe that Suntory Old Japanese Traditional Blend Whisky may be regarded as the company’s first attempt at marketing a luxury whisky.

The current release of Suntory Old Whisky is instantly recognisable to fans of Japanese whisky, especially those that enjoy the whisky from the Yamazaki distillery. The colour is a nice bronze-y amber, while the nose contains plenty of spicy scents. The first spice I pick up on is nutmeg. I smell a hint of cumin as well, though this may be due to the other spices. The nose is very fruity as well, and I pick up a hint of pear.

The palate is interesting; the whisky is fresh even after eleven years. The fruity flavours from the nose translate well to the palate. In addition to having a vanilla-y sweetness, I also pick up a honey flavour. There is a slight spice note that feels like it coats the front of my tongue. However, it is not very strong, and I actually wonder if that is because I haven’t had any other Suntory whisky. The finish is medium-to-long with a slightly buttery texture.

The most interesting part of the whisky was the finish; it is slightly sweet and very soft. It finishes surprisingly quickly because the taste and texture of the whisky falls away just as you feel like the flavour is becoming more apparent.

This is an excellent whisky. It’s not priced too high and it has a reasonable flavour, but it’s not overly complex or unique. Fans of Yamazaki will love this whisky. However, single malt aficionados may be put off by this release.