サントリープレミアムハイボール白州〈シェリー樽原酒ブレンド〉

2023 was a big year for Suntory and Japanese whiskies as a category - it was the 100th anniversary of when local whiskies were first produced in Japan, which props to Suntory, took place at Yamazaki Distillery. It's really cool to see that 100 years on, Yamazaki is as big as ever, and the Japanese whisky scene has become more vibrant than ever (no thanks to a global rise in interest in whisky, amidst other things).

Yet, funnily, there wasn't nearly as much hoorah from Suntory as one might've expected given the significance of the occasion. There was a tidy commemorative release of several of Suntory's most popular brands - Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki - each sporting the 100th Anniversary insignia, but aside from that nothing all that spectacular, with just a pretty standard lineup of NAS, 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old (nothing we haven't already seen to be honest) expressions. Some say it's to do with the whole shortage that Suntory has been facing when a couple of years ago, there was an industry-wide unexpected surge in interest for Japanese whiskies - but really, who knows, right?

It gets the people going!

It was therefore up to a rather unlikely hero to come and jig the fan's excitement - a couple of 100th Anniversary canned ready-to-drink (RTD) highballs. Who would have thought canned highballs (considering Suntory doesn't usually indulge in Yamazaki/Hakushu canned-anything), which are already quite a staple, would create such excitement (at least for a hot minute, and then as is the case, the cycle continues, and also it was rather pricey at 660 Yen or US$4.35). There were initially two canned highballs announced - a Yamazaki Highball (reviewed here) and a Hakushu Highball (reviewed here). And then quietly, almost as if Suntory didn't want anyone to notice, a third canned highball was released - a Hakushu Sherry Cask Matured Blend Highball!

| Read: Hakushu Canned Highball (Reviewed)

The Hakushu Distillery.

Sherry-anything is already enough to stir up some enthusiasm, but a Hakushu Sherry Blend - all the more! After all, Hakushu has amassed a pretty solid fanbase for its more herbal and minty flavours - it's no Yamazaki in the way of mass appeal, but it's certainly got its fans (myself included).

The contents of this canned Highball are pretty self-explanatory - it contains some Sherry Cask-aged Hakushu whisky that's been blended into a Highball and canned at 9% ABV.

Let's give it a go! 

Suntory Premium Highball Hakushu Sherry Cask Matured Blend - Review

Tasting Notes

Colour: Light Gold

Aroma: Light smokiness, it’s buttery, malty, with a light dusting of confectionary powdered sugar and also a wedge of lemon. It’s quite rounded with a good cohesiveness, a good depth and richness to it - so not too bright and confectionary.

Taste: Oooh more of the sherry flavours coming through - alittle more sherry sweetness, this red wine sort of concentrated berry sweetness, more maltiness and honey, with some confectionary vanilla, still a light smokiness, light hit of lemon.

Finish: Clean finish, more of that sherry sweetness, some ashiness, here it’s giving lemon sherbet. Slight bit more of that powdered sugar.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty tasty highball. The Sherry flavours don’t immediately come through on the nose, but it does come through in the form of a sort of denser, more concentrated berry jam sugar of sorts that I’d place as being closer to red wine or simply sherry.

What I liked here is how this highball isn’t too bright or confectionary - sometimes they can be really sugary and just feel like heaps of sugar or fondant. Here it’s just the right sort of richness, not too bright nor dense. The sherry flavours while an interesting touch, could be alittle better integrated and more obvious - or at the least more consistently evident from nose to palate and into the finish. Perhaps a stronger and more persistent jammy sweetness would be nice. 

Nevertheless, this was still pretty tasty, the smokiness was quite enjoyable and gave it an added dimension to savour. And also solid points for being rich and being malty and buttery.

If you happen to come by one, I’d say it’s worth a pickup. But don’t bail on your grandma’s birthday and hop on a flight just for it.