Suntory Whisky Toki – more commonly referenced as Suntory Toki – is best known for its sterling reputation of making elevated Highballs. It’s made from a blend from Suntory’s three distilleries, Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita, primarily featuring the later two’s grain whiskeys. Suntory is specifically focused on blending with the whisky, aiming to show what can be done with each of the distilleries’ spirits. Unlike some of Suntory’s other highly sought after whiskies, you should be able to find Toki easily and at a price that won’t break the bank. So how is it?
Suntory Whisky Toki
Sight: Pale straw fringing into corn.
Smell: Apple skins, malt, and spices open up with a hint of heat. A strong floral note comes in and touches of orange marmalade join in. Caramel and lemon have element notes in the background as well.
Sip: The flavor is gentle, malted, with hints of honey and caramel. Touches of wet slate, minerality, lemon pith, and flowers come in. The body is light, slightly warm. There are hints of spice, nut, and other elements toward the background.
Savor: The ending picks up a certain amount of aged wood and malt. There are elements of salinity and minerality, and caramel flavor. Specifically caramel flavor because it isn’t a sweet caramel.
Suntory Whisky Toki is fine. The flavor profile is gentle and subtle. The blending of the whiskey has a good impact on how the flavors layer, although they aren’t particularly interesting or enticing. As a neat whiskey, we’d recommend most other whiskeys. Toki also isn’t normally associated with drinking neat.
In Cocktails
Suntory Whisky Toki is frequently referenced as one of the best whiskeys for use in a Highball. In our experience, the highball brought out malt and cereal notes from the Suntory Toki. The apple notes become more subtle, while the floral elements are given more room to operate. Caramel and spice move into the background and work well with the minerality. The Toki actually helps the drink become an extension of itself. The subtle nature that helps it work in a highball is an indicator in this scenario that it plays better with other similarly gentle flavors.
In Review – Suntory Whisky Toki
Overall, Suntory Whisky Toki has a place in cocktails, but the rest of the value will be determined by the value you place on Japanese Whiskey. Most classic cocktails do not call for Japanese Whiskey, and it isn’t the most versatile ingredient, working well in more subtle, gentle cocktails. When served neat, it communicates much the same way, in an elegant and mild sort of way. The price point puts it right in line with most entry level Japanese Whiskeys and it’s widely available, making it the most common choice. All that said, we still recommend that try it before you buy it.