Suntory World Whisky Ao (75cl, 43%)

A blended whisky at 43% that brings together malt and grain whiskies from seven distilleries in five countries: Yamazaki and Hakushu in Japan, Ardmore and Glen Garioch in Scotland, Cooley in Ireland, Alberta Distillers in Canada and Jim Beam in the United States. The name Ao means blue in Japanese, a nod to the oceans that connect those countries. Rather than merging the whiskies into one voice, the blend sets a common base and lets each distillery's character show. The nose has vanilla and pineapple-like fruit with a woody note. On the palate come citrus, honeyed malt, caramel, toasted oak and a build of smoke and spice. The finish is medium, moving between sweet, smoky and woody.