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The fifth in the THE ESSENCE of SUNTORY series Vol. 5 The fifth in the series
THE ESSENCE of SUNTORY series was created based on Suntory’s desire to pursue the “Essence” in whisky making.
| Part 1 | Released on February 27, 2018 |
Single Malt Whisky Single malt whisky Yamazaki Distillery <peated malt Single grain whiskey Hakushu Distillery <Rye type Single grain whiskey Chita distillery〈Ripe after 4 years in wine barrels |
| Second release | February 26, 2019 release | Single malt whisky Yamazaki Distillery <Spanish Oak Single malt whisky Yamazaki Distillery <Montillery Wine Cask Single malt whisky Yamazaki Distillery <Refill Sherry Cask |
| Third release | Release on October 29, 2019 | Blended Japanese Whiskey <Clean Type Blended Japanese Whiskey (Rich Type) |
| Part 4 | To be released on April 28, 2020 |
Essence of Suntory Whiskey(Rice Whiskey) Single grain whiskey Chita Distillery <Cherry Blossom Barrel Mature Blend |
| Part 5 | To be released on August 31, 2021 |
Single malt whisky Yamazaki Distillery <Golden Promise Single malt whiskey Yamazaki Distillery <Ira-peated |
This time, it was developed under the theme of “barley”.
The label design is also based on the image of “barley” with ink art.
The single malt whisky is made from the rare “Golden Promise” malt, and the single malt whisky is made from dried, peat-fired malt from the island of Islay. These are two challenges that expand the new possibilities of whisky making by taking advantage of Suntory’s pride in creating a variety of different types of raw materials.
This “Islay Peated” is made from peat mined on the island of Islay, so I wonder if it was realized from the flow of Suntory’s ownership of the Bowmore distillery. (under Suntory in 1994) and the Laphroaig distillery (under Suntory in 2014).
The Bottle
Single malt whisky aged for 11 years in American oak barrels.
This single malt whisky is a blend of only raw materials made from peat-fired and dried malt mined on the island of Islay.
One of the characteristics of the peat from Islay is that it is influenced by the sea due to its location near the coast.
The powerful peatiness of Islay peat, the scent of the sea, and the smooth mouthfeel of this whisky are sure to please.
| Aroma | Strong peaty, tidal aroma |
| Taste | Smooth mouthfeel with a lingering sweetness |
| Aftertaste | A long, aromatic, peaty finish. |
| Alcohol Content | 54% alcohol by volume |
| alcohol category | Malt (optic peat malt) |
| Barrel type | American oak barrels |
| Contents | 500ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited quantity |
| Suggested retail price | 8,800 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | August 31, 2021 (Tuesday) |
Our Take
This whisky was created by Suntory’s diverse selection of raw materials. It is made from peat from the island of Islay, so as expected, the peatiness with a touch of sea saltiness is very assertive in both aroma and taste. If you like Islay single malts, you should definitely try this one.
If you don’t like peat, I recommend the “Golden Promise” because you can feel the richness and flavor of the malt.
Both of these whiskies are limited and hard to find, so if you see them in a bar, you should definitely try them.
(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)
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