Via barrels handed down from one blender to the next, Hibiki 40 Year Old has been made possible thanks to decades of expertise and experience in the art of blending. The blenders carefully selected a variety of The House of Suntory’s ultra-high-aged whiskies produced by earlier generations.

Suntory’s Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo crafted Hibiki 40 Year Old. “I would like people to enjoy the pure aroma that has been sharpened over the years; the tranquility of old temples and storehouses and the nostalgic warm feeling that accompanies them,” said Fukuyo.

The expression demonstrates the next chapter for Hibiki, where its signature “creating harmony” not only resonates with the Mizunara Japanese oak and the Spanish oak, but is further elevated with the aged American oak.

To honor Japanese craftsmanship, The House of Suntory has partnered with the Japanese washi artist Eriko Horiki to hand craft the washi label on the Hibiki 40 Year Old box. The bottle is fashioned from crystal glass, boasting 30 facets intricately crafted by a renowned glassware maker known as a trusted purveyor to the Japanese imperial family. It is decorated with traditional Japanese maki-e, mother-of-pearl inlay, and gold lacquer to pay homage to our heritage and tradition.

The wooden box (see above) is made of 12 kinds of Japanese wood such as pine and zelkova, and has 12 faces, representing the 12 months of the year. Around the box, flowers and grasses of the four seasons of Japan are depicted in maki-e lacquer, representing the changing seasons and linking the past and future through Hibiki.

Only 400 bottles of Hibiki 40 Year Old will be released, with each bottle retailing for $35,000.

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Suntory’s 5th Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo has pushed the boundaries of whisky making with this series, whose name translated means artisanship through a diversity of making, by using ingredients like wood, and processes that expand the previous Tsukuriwake (pronounced soo-koo-ree-wah-keh) range to showcase the diversity of whisky making.

“Tsukuriwake translates to ‘artisanship through a diversity of making’, which is truly what the 2024 Series represents with each of the four liquids included,” said Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender of Suntory. “While past releases from the collection focused mainly on the details of the casks, The 2024 Tsukuriwake Series emphasizes the elements of whisky making, such as ingredient selection, peat, and cask. This series is the ultimate showcase of the incredible diversity of choices that goes into the making of Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies.”

In previous years, the series has mainly focused on the casks matured in the lands of Yamazaki. The 2024 Series reveals that the Tsukuriwake approach goes beyond diversifying the whiskies in multiple casks to incorporate elements of whisky-making, such as ingredient selection, peat and cask.

Yamazaki Golden Promise is made from golden promise barley, a standout grain cultivated in Scotland in the 1960s. Distilled in Japan since 2009 and aged in American Oak casks, it delivers a maltier, richer Yamazaki profile. It is perfect for more mature whiskies and has been added to Yamazaki 12 Year Old.

Islay Peat is often recognized as a distinctive character amongst scotch, with a softer and sweeter mouthfeel than Scotland’s mainland peat. The water and maturation process used to create Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt yields a balanced sweetness that complements the smoke.

Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition) introduces a limited-edition label for Suntory’s flagship Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara. A long maturation period reveals its signature spiciness and incense-like sandalwood and aloe wood flavors that comprise this 100% Mizunara whisky.

Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition) introduces a limited-edition label for Suntory’s celebrated Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt. To honor the blending at the Hakushu distillery, it enables The House of Suntory to produce more than 100 different malt whiskies. A lengthy maturation process in Hakushu’s  water reveals a distinct smokiness with spicy, peppery notes.

The Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt were launched last year for the House of Suntory’s 100th anniversary and were continued due to their popularity among consumers.

The House of Suntory’s 2024 Tsukuriwake Series’ Yamazaki Golden Promise and Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt retail for $465, while Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt retail for $1,500 and $1,200, respectively.

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