First released in 1937, Kakubin (“Kaku-bin” literally meaning “square bottle”) is the flagship blended whisky from Suntory and widely regarded as a cornerstone of Japanese whisky history and tradition.
The blend draws on whiskies from Suntory’s distilleries (including grain whiskies and malt from the house’s malt distilleries), crafted to deliver a light, balanced, and versatile profile that suits Japanese palate preferences while remaining approachable worldwide.
Kakubin Yellow Label remains Japan’s best-selling whisky and is especially beloved for its signature “Kaku Highball” — a simple whisky-and-soda serve that continues to define Japanese whisky culture.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Bright orange-gold.
Nose: Delicate and approachable: fresh citrus (lemon), green apple, butter-cookie sweetness and soft malt. Hints of hazelnut or gentle biscuit-like oak emerge with time.
Palate: Light and smooth. Flavours of orchard fruit (apple), mild vanilla sweetness, honeyed malt, and gentle cereal/orchard-fruit character. Subtle spice and soft oak undercurrents add subtle complexity.
Finish: Dryish and gentle — a clean, softly malty finish with a touch of grain-cereal and a light after-taste that leaves a sense of freshness and balance.
First Released: 1937 — a landmark in Japanese whisky history.
Style / Category: Blended Japanese Whisky (grain & malt blend)
ABV: 40%
Volume: 700ml
Typical Cask Origins: Bourbon-cask matured whiskies from Suntory’s distilleries (grain + malt), blended for balance and approachability.
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations: If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
