October 9 2024  |  Spirits & Tobacco

Hibiki 40 Year: The House of Suntory introduces the oldest blended whisky in brand history

By Wendy Morley


The House of Suntory reveals Hibiki 40 Year Old

The House of Suntory has announced the release of Hibiki 40 Year Old, underlining the brand’s role as a leading pioneer of Japanese Whisky.

Hibiki 40 Year Old is an exclusive liquid with an extraordinary blend of high-quality Japanese whiskies from Suntory’s globally acclaimed distilleries – Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita – each matured for over 40 years and blended to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

The release is said to solidify The House of Suntory’s position at the forefront of Japanese spirits, “crafting whiskies of unparalleled rarity and lineage, each a testament to their commitment to defying convention”.

Only 400 bottles of the ultra-luxury Hibiki 40 Year Old will be released globally across selected markets and channels.

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.

Handed down from one blender to the next, Hibiki 40 Year Old has been made possible thanks to decades of accumulated expertise and experience in the art of blending. It is the pinnacle of generations of learning and craftsmanship, and a unique and incredibly rare embodiment of the finest standards of Japanese mastery, making a statement of the spirit of innovation at The House of Suntory.

The blenders carefully selected a variety of The House of Suntory’s treasured, ultra-high-aged whiskies produced with great care by their earlier generations. The decadent and truly innovative result is a described as “a gorgeous taste with layers of unprecedented aroma and mellowness”.

Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, crafted Hibiki 40 Year Old. On the nose, it reveals aromas of Japanese loquat, dry lemon peel, and clove. It unveils flavors of pure acacia honey and dry fig on the palate, culminating in an aromatic aftertaste.

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 aging process. He explained: “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.”


The House of Suntory partnered with Japanese washi artist, Eriko Horiki, to hand craft the washi label on the Hibiki 40 Year Old box

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 caramelized cacao palates from the aged American oak.

To honor Japanese craftsmanship, The House of Suntory has partnered with the renowned 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. This design amplifies the golden hue of the liquid within, epitomizing the essence of luxury and refinement.

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.

Ashish Gandham, Suntory Global Spirits Managing Director Global Travel Retail, said, “This is a landmark release from The House of Suntory, so I am delighted that we can offer it to our key GTR partners. Hibiki was introduced in 1989 to commemorate Suntory’s 90th anniversary, and it embodies the pinnacle of Japanese luxury and craftsmanship.

“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 traveling connoisseurs seeking to experience a truly exceptional whisky.”

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