JP-STR-129 Suntory Whisky Reserve

🎯 Suntory Special Reserve – Overview

• Brand / Label: Suntory Special Reserve (sometimes seen as “Suntory Reserve”)

• Producer: Suntory, Japan

• Launch / History: Originally released in 1969 to commemorate Suntory’s 70th anniversary.

• Type: Blended Japanese whisky (NAS / no consistent age statement in many versions)

• Alcohol by Volume: Typically 40% ABV in many later editions; earlier versions sometimes 43% ABV.

🍷 Tasting & Composition

• Key Components:

  • Includes malt whisky from Hakushu, often aged in white oak casks.

  • Also includes Yamazaki in the blend.

• Flavor Profile (General / Vintage‑Variation):

  • Nose: dried fruits (such as prunes, dates, apricots), sherry influence, some hints of orange peel.

  • Palate: sweet, oaky tones, perhaps touches of wood, sugar, dried fruit; also licorice or chocolate bitterness in some versions.

  • Finish: medium‑long, with fruit, wood, sometimes slight bitterness or spicy / citrus elements.

📦 Bottle Design & Collectibility

• There are many variants: bottles with different labels over time (e.g. “A Rare Blend” in the 1970s, “A Supreme Blend” in the 1980s).

• Some versions were sold in smaller / collectible sizes or special editions for the Japanese market.

• Due to history, vintage bottles (pre‑80s or 70s) tend to be more sought‑after by collectors. Condition of bottle, label, fill level strongly affect value.

✅ Summary Table