Suntory Whisky Toki

This is the budget bottle on the list, and the most honest one in its price bracket. Toki is a Suntory blend that sits on the company's own list of brands meeting the Japanese whisky standard, so the cheap price is not hiding whisky shipped in from elsewhere. It is light and green, with basil, green apple and grapefruit, and it was built for the highball rather than for sipping neat. Lots of ice, cold soda, a twist of lemon: that is the drink, and Toki is very good at it.