13 Feb New in town: Suntory Whisky Toki blended whisky

We’re pretty excited that Suntory Whisky is launching a new blended whisky in the Australian market, Toki. It joins the stable of premium liquors in the House of Suntory portfolio.

Whisky: Toki blended whisky
Distiller: Suntory Whisky
Country: Japan
Type: Blended malt and grain whisky
ABV: 43%

Colour (what does it look like?):
Clear gold

Nose (what does it smell like?):
Basil, green apple, honey

Palate (what does it taste and feel like?):
Grapefruit, green grapes, peppermint, thyme

Finish (how does the flavour finish on the palate?):
Subtly sweet and spicy, hint of vanilla oak, white pepper and ginger

Background

Japanese for ‘time’, Toki is a blend of carefully selected whiskies from Suntory’s acclaimed Hakushu, Yamazaki and Chita distilleries. It was launched in Australia in early 2019.

Suntory’s Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo challenged whisky convention by rethinking the hierarchy of the components of the blended whisky. In traditional blends, grain whiskies tend to play a supporting role to accentuate key malts. But the wide range of grain whiskies produced at the Chita distillery led Fukuyo to rethink that role.

One of Toki’s two main pillars is a Chita heavy-type grain whisky, which brings a clean taste with notes of sweetness and vanilla. The other pillar is Hakushu American white oak cask malt whisky, with freshness, mellowness and green apple notes.

To give the blend greater depth and complexity, two Yamazaki malts are also added: Yamazaki American white oak cask malt whisky which reinforces the sweetness of the Chita grain whisky, and Yamazaki Spanish oak cask malt whisky which adds woody, bittersweet notes to the blend.

The result is what Suntory calls a vivid, well-balanced and silky blend with a subtle sweet and spicy finish. And it’s now available at Tokyo Bird, Osaka Trading Co. and Banchō – our newest bar located at 10 Thomas Lane, Haymarket.

Best drinking

Delicious in a classic highball with soda and lemon, but also great in cocktails – like a classic Old Fashioned or our Lunar New Year special at Banchō called This Lil Pig, featuring bacon fat-washed Toki whisky, dry sherry, Cynar and bitters.