Whisky : Suntory Whisky Royal

Country/Region : Japan/Blend

ABV : 43%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Mizunara Oak

Tasting : Neat in a Glencairn @ Whisky Group Night

Nose : Candied pecans and pie crust with a faint dry white wine.  It is sweet and light like honeyed tea. 

Palate : Graham crackers and a rich pudding.  Brings to mind banana pudding pie; the sort of Midwestern American potluck dessert which consists of instant banana pudding, chopped banana, and ‘Nilla wafers.  Faint hints of cocoa suggest a light dusting on the pie.

Finish : Medium length sweet pastries.

Score : 4

Mental Image : Vanilla wafers and banana pudding pie.

Something Better : Chivas Regal 18 (more complexity, better finish, better mouthfeel)

Something Similar : The Chita Single Grain (similar light toasty pastry notes, bit more savory)

Something Worse : Brenne Single Malt (more artificial banana, sweeter)

Notes :  This is the last review I wrote and rather forgot about.  A left over from the first tasting event our local whisky group held.  The theme of the event was Japanese whisky and the organizer drew in quite a crowd with the promise to try old favorites and hard to find releases.  In addition to Japanese Whisky, there were a few allocated bourbons and an Irish whiskey.  Trying to taste everything looked like a recipe for disaster, though a few brave (or foolhardy) men and women attempted just that.  I tried to be strategic, taste the things that caught my eye, and space everything out enough so I could still jot down some notes and impressions of each.

I would not say this whisky really stood out, which is probably why I never bothered typing up my notes until now.  It was, as many of the whiskies that night were, better than I expected of a “No Age Statement” Japanese whisky.  My experience with the category had not been very good, maybe influenced by a few dregs.  But after the tasting, I gained a better appreciation for some of the affordable and available bottles along the lines of Suntory Royal.  It is probably not a whisky to blow people away, but it does show the potential for quality in the affordable end of the Japanese whisky spectrum.

I will not be rushing out to buy this bottle.  I skipped it entirely for a few Nikka releases last time I had the chance in Japan.  The Royal was pleasant, if not a little charming with its nostalgic flavor profile.  I remember as a child being really offended by banana pudding pies; I just did not understand why someone would ruin perfectly good Nilla Wafers and whipped cream with foul banana pudding.  My tastes have changed a lot since then, but I still think the Nilla wafers are probably the best part— and I think this dram has that nice honey sweetened pastry note, with just a hint of the creamy pudding banana.