Suntory Kakubin Yellow Label

Score: 51

Suntory Kakubin Yellow Label came dead last in the tasting and not by accident. With a profile that barely stretched beyond sweet candy and little else, it was more of a palate prank than a serious contender. One member summed it up perfectly: “Not that great at all.” Let’s be real—this bottle was included as a bit of a mockery, a sixth dram to round out the lineup and stir some laughs. But the joke may have backfired. Its saccharine simplicity and lack of depth inadvertently set the tone for a rocky relationship between several club members and Japanese whisky going forward. A shame, really, considering the rich heritage and craftsmanship Japan is known for. Despite its legacy as a foundational blend from Suntory launched in 1937 and still Japan’s best-selling whisky. Kakubin Yellow Label felt like a relic of convenience store shelves rather than a celebration of Japanese finesse. It’s a whisky that shines in a highball, not in a lineup of serious sippers.