PRICE: $30-45 INFO: Japanese no-age-statement blended whiskey. The reported components from biggest proportion to smallest proportion: 1) Hakushu (malt); 2) Chita (grain); and 3) Yamazaki (malt). Maturation is coming from both American white oak and Spanish oak. NOSE: 52/100. Atrocious right off the bat. Glue and plastic. I’m not having this neat. With a few drops of water and some time, the dram settles down. Honey, straw, and granny smith apples. You get none of the floral notes that characterize Hibiki and Yamazaki. PALATE: 44/100. Really bad grain. I find it hard to believe that Hakushu is the main component. There’s some hot, youthful barley and corn, with a harsh, nasty vanilla. There is a cologne note – like actual cologne – try spraying some cheap Calvin Klein in your mouth. I cannot believe how bad this is. FINISH: 30/100. Sorry, I could only manage two sips – about one-tenth of my 5cL sample. I dumped the rest. It’s flat, metallic, coppery. My kryptonite when it comes to whiskey is not Sulphur or bitterness; it’s the taste of blood, like you bit your tongue; I get that disgusting association when cheap grain is used. It’s what I get here. OVERALL: This is the Johnnie Walker Red of Japanese whiskey. Sorry to start the year on a low note, but this is one of the worst whiskies I’ve ever tried. Call me a single malt snob, I don’t care, but you cannot pay me to have this again. The world is so high on Suntory, I think they actively tried to see what they could get away with in terms of cheap production costs, and it amazes me some reviewers are still giving this a tentative green light. Spend a few extra bucks. Hibiki Harmony and Nikka Coffey Grain are still overpriced, but there is an actual effort at quality with them, and they are not offensive like Toki. MARK: 44/100. VALUE FOR MONEY: Fill a nicer looking bottle with rodent urine, and I’d rather spend my money there.