Suntory sells 'world whisky' blend as premium tipple

Runner3:

I have a bottle of 17 year old Hibiki, anyone want's to buy it?

If you name your price, I know some folks who would want to buy it, including myself.

Of course any spirit should be drunk at a moderate pace with plenty of water on the side-everybody knows that?

Respect.

BackpackingNepal

Rice Wine or Millet Whiskey are better healthier choices.

That's like buying organic wine. Alcohol is inherently unhealthy, so why imagine you are choosing a healthier choice. It's not as if being organic makes it non-alcoholic. People don't buy alcohol for their health. The difference between the healthiness of rice wine or millet whiskey and malt whiskey, if anything, is negligible (for the same alcohol content).

Rice Wine or Millet Whiskey are better healthier choices.

Those traditional and fermented for long time in the jar.

Yubaru:

Just chug the bottle all at once.

A good drink is one who's name is deleted from your memory. I can attest that is a....why are my socks different colours? Do I have a dog? My house seems to be a helicopter.

A good Japanese whisky is a fine thing, but a nice single malt Scotch is the ultimate Friday night treat.

Saturday night, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights as well!

A good Japanese whisky is a fine thing, but a nice single malt Scotch is the ultimate Friday night treat.

Scotch is still my favourite but I must admit my head has been turned by Irish whisky recently. I used to think Irish was smooth but a bit bland, but Black Bush ( ¥2,500 in my local shop ) is heavenly.

@runner3

I'll buy it. How much?

A full bottle of Laphroaig malt, will last me about three months

I got a bottle of Laphroaig malt at the beginning of December last year that surrendered up its last wee dram just last week, so nearly five months.

It was spaced out with another couple of bottles of less elevated stuff, though; a blended Scotch I got for Christmas, and a bottle of Tomalin my son brought through the duty-free for me at New Year, none of which is still extant.

A good Japanese whisky is a fine thing, but a nice single malt Scotch is the ultimate Friday night treat.

Nothing beats good ole Kentucky whiskey.

I still have about 40 bottles of scotch, and other whiskey, as well. 

I am slowly drinking them all, one shot at a time!

So you have a virtual cornucopia of whisky? Nice.

I am in awe of your awesome ability to drink your way through it slowly.

Yubaru - You do know that whisky doesn't age in the bottle? You can keep a bottle of Johnny Black 12-year-old for a hundred years, and it will still be a 12-year-old.

Why on earth would you hang on to a bottle for 75 years? Drink the stuff, it's what it's there for!

75 wasted years......

Yes I know, my father-in-law kept the bottles, along with at least 80 others as well, in a side board displaying them.

I convinced him to let us open the brandies, cognac and others, as he stored them all standing up, their corks broke up and the alcohol was evaporating. He had 50 to 100 year old brandies, that we drank over the course of about 5 years.

I still have about 40 bottles of scotch, and other whiskey, as well.

I am slowly drinking them all, one shot at a time!

Yubaru - You do know that whisky doesn't age in the bottle? You can keep a bottle of Johnny Black 12-year-old for a hundred years, and it will still be a 12-year-old.

Why on earth would you hang on to a bottle for 75 years? Drink the stuff, it's what it's there for!

75 wasted years......

I have a bottle of 17 year old Hibiki, anyone want's to buy it?

I happen to have 2 quart bottles of Johnnie Walker Black that are over 75 years old! Anyone interested?

Also have 1 of Red, that is over 50 years old!

I had some extra cash in my pocket today and saw this on display at my local Aeon, it went on sale yesterday, and according to the Aeon liquor store manager they are almost sold out of their allotment. There were only 8 bottles left when I bought mine.

I will have a few sips tonight and share my uneducated opinion!

There is nothing wrong with Japanese whiskey. Many of them are a top class drop.

Agree but disagree with the latter.

No connoisseur but, I think the Japanese make fine whiskey. Funny enough, found a place that does thimble tasters for 150-300 yen if anyone is interested in trying out some pricier blends without going broke. Google: hasegawa liquor store tokyo station. No, this is not an ad, just think the place has a good selection. Gin and some craft beer as well.

I have a bottle of 17 year old Hibiki, anyone want's to buy it?

Jim Beam ( owned by Suntory ) at 1,100 yen does nicely, thanks.

aiming to elevate the status of young blends among discerning drinkers who often swear by aged single malts

ie. calling it something different to jack up the price

………. yeah sad all the good stuff has basically disappeared from the shelves, Chita is quite nice, if you like very smooth stuff give it a try.

Not sure about this Ao, might give it a try if I see it at Y5000 but if the stores have it jacked up than for get it, hell you can simply try blending your OWN world whisky from stuff on your shelf at home.

Hopefully there never is a severe issue for the stuff from Scotland, THAT would be a disaster!

The Yamazaki whiskey from Suntory has won best Whiskey 3 years in a row. This year their AO blend is a strong contender. It made it past the first round.

"Hey guys, we can't provide you with any proper whisky right now so we will just mix 5 already available whiskies and sell it to you at a premium price."

made with whisky from Scotland, the United States, Ireland, Japan and Canada

This sounds rather odd but I'd like to try it at least once

Ao's launch comes amid growing questions around provenance, as loose Japanese regulations have meant imported whisky, when bottled or blended in the country, can be passed off as local.

Buy low, slap a "made in Japan" label on it and sell high. No thank you.

There is nothing wrong with Japanese whiskey. Many of them are a top class drop.

Even before Tuesday certain retailers in Japan were advertising ‘Ao’ for 4-5 times its recommended retail price.

Pure greed!