I must admit, when I first heard about a premium canned highball from Suntory carrying a rather steep price tag, I was sceptical. Anyone knows how to make their own whisky highballs. It seemed like there was no real need for an overpriced soft drink like this one. But tasting this offering from Suntory changed my perspective. 

2023 isn't just any year for Suntory and its fans. It's the golden jubilee of the Hakushu Distillery, marking its 50th anniversary since its establishment in 1973. Suntory's journey into the whisky realm also began exactly a century ago, when its founder Shinjiro Torii pioneered whisky production in the outskirts of Osaka with Yamazaki Distillery. Fast forward to today, and the company's paying homage to its storied past with the release of two limited edition Premium Highballs - one from Hakushu, and another from Yamazaki.

Nestled amid the verdant forests at the foot of the Kai Komagatake in the South Alps, Hakushu Distillery is the company's second malt distillery after its maiden Yamazaki Distillery.

Hakushu is the brainchild of Keizo Saji, the son of founder Shinjiro Torii. He looked to build another malt distillery that would flourish in a contrasting environment, adding new layers of flavour and complexity to the Suntory portfolio.

How does Hakushu offer new flavours and complexity? Whisky enthusiasts might find this fascinating: the current Hakushu distillation facility looks like a playground for innovation, housing several stills of different sizes, shapes, and lyne-arm orientations.

Based on the 9% ABV, I did a bit of maths, and it seems to roughly align with the classic Suntory highball recipe: one part whisky to three parts soda water. This ratio is one that Suntory has championed in its bars, aiming for that perfect balance between the robust flavours of the whisky and the effervescence of the soda. Now, with all this in mind, let's get into the heart of the matter: the tasting. Standard Hakushu whiskies already introduce a slightly peaty touch to the palate, let's see how this plays out in a highball. 

Suntory Premium Highball - Hakushu, 9% ABV – Review

Colour: Nearly colourless.

Nose: Fresh with a hint of light citrus, accompanied by a gentle aromatic smokiness, along with underlying notes of minerality, giving it an earthy character.

Palate: Clean, grassy and herbaceous. Opens with a sweetness akin to pomelo, intertwined with an elegant and understated Chinese incense smokiness, aromas of peppermint and a light zestiness.

Finish: Smokiness persists and lingers subtly. A spiciness can be felt at the back of the throat. 'Chewing' seems to bring out some dry oak nuances, and light grassiness. Right at the end, we get some hints of dark roasted coffee and a touch of light vanilla.

My Thoughts:

🌿 Very minty and refreshing! 

This highball captures many of the qualities one would hope for. It has a refreshingly minty essence, is delicately smoky, and brings to mind a serene forest. The combination of fruitiness, smokiness and zestiness makes the experience reminiscent of a Port Charlotte, but far gentler and more refined. It packs a bit more flavour than what I'd expect from a Hakushu highball, and that's a pleasant surprise.

Kanpai!

@CharsiuCharlie