Suntory has announced the release of Hibiki 40 Year Old, seeking to underline the brand’s role as a leading pioneer of Japanese whisky.
Hibiki 40 Year Old is an exclusive liquid with a blend of high-quality Japanese whiskies from Suntory’s distilleries – Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita – each matured for over 40 years.
Only 400 bottles of the ultra-luxury Hibiki 40 Year Old will be released globally across selected markets and channels.
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| Hibiki 40 Year Old blended whisky |
This release, which is the oldest blended whisky in brand history, aims to strengthen Suntory's position at the forefront of Japanese spirits.
An allocation has been set aside for the global travel retail channel. These bottles have been earmarked for key global airport locations: Sydney, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Hainan, Taipei, Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Los Angeles.
Suntory's Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo crafted Hibiki 40 Year Old from a variety of Suntory's ultra-high-aged whiskies produced by earlier generations. The “decadent and truly innovative” result has layers of unprecedented aroma and mellowness, the company said.
On the nose, it reveals aromas of Japanese loquat, dry lemon peel and clove. It unveils flavours of pure acacia honey and dry fig on the palate, culminating in an aromatic aftertaste.
Shinji Fukuyo said that behind the elegance and bloom that is typical of Hibiki, there is a sense of subduedness, like that of an old temple, and a wabi-sabi patina due to the long ageing process.
He explained: “I would like people to enjoy the pure aroma that has been sharpened over the years; the tranquillity of old temples and storehouses and the nostalgic warm feeling that accompanies them.”
"The pinnacle of Japanese luxury and craftsmanship"
Hibiki 40 Year Old demonstrates the next chapter for Hibiki, where its signature ‘Creating Harmony’ not only resonates with the complexity of Mizunara Japanese oak and the subtle sweetness of Spanish oak, but is further elevated with the smoothness of caramelised cacao from the aged American oak.
To honour Japanese craftsmanship, Suntory has partnered with the renowned Japanese washi artist Eriko Horiki to handcraft the washi label on the presentation box.
The bottle is fashioned from crystal glass, boasting 30 facets crafted by a renowned glassware maker known as a 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 its heritage and tradition. This design seeks to amplify the golden hue of the liquid.
The wooden box 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.
“This is a landmark release from The House of Suntory, so I am delighted that we can offer it to our key global travel retail partners,” said Suntory Global Spirits Managing Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Gandham. “Hibiki was introduced in 1989 to commemorate Suntory’s 90th anniversary, and it embodies the pinnacle of Japanese luxury and craftsmanship.”
He continued: “We have huge ambitions for this brand, as we continue to develop and enhance our premium whisky portfolio. The word Hibiki means resonance in Japanese, and I am confident that Hibiki 40 Year Old will absolutely resonate with travelling connoisseurs seeking to experience a truly exceptional whisky."
