Suntory Old Whisky 70cl

Comfort-drink energy in a glass, this classic Japanese whisky leans into caramel, gentle oak, and warming spice, the kind of pour that makes weeknights feel like you actually planned something.

If you want a Japanese whisky that doesn’t demand homework, this is a great place to start. It’s friendly enough to sip neat, but it’s also got enough flavour to hold its own in a simple highball, which is basically Japan’s favourite way to drink whisky for a reason.

• Nose: Honeyed caramel, light vanilla, a touch of toasted oak, and soft baking spice.
• Taste: Toffee and sweet malt up front, then gentle peppery spice and a round, easy texture.
• Finish: Warm oak and lingering caramel with a faint spice tingle that keeps it moreish.

Best way to drink it: try a Japanese-style Highball (lots of ice, good soda water, quick lemon twist). It stays bright, refreshing, and somehow still tastes like whisky.

Good for: easy sipping, gifting to someone who “doesn’t really like whisky” (then suddenly does), and levelling up classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned without turning them into a sugar bomb.

Why it’s different: it’s a throwback bottle with a very specific Japanese approach, dialled-in balance, sweet-leaning flavour, and zero aggressive smoke.

Fun Fact: Suntory is one of the names that helped put Japanese whisky on the global map, long before it was the cool thing to chase.