The next article was produced in partnership with Home of Suntory.
To discover the wealthy historical past of Japanese whisky, we should first perceive the concepts and lots of fingers which have helped form it.
First, is the idea of Wa: a deeply-respected cultural worth that embodies the essence of concord and steadiness. Wa is present in all features of Japanese life, permeating via social interactions, craftsmanship and aesthetics comparable to flower arranging and tea ceremonies.
Within the context of whisky, it suggests a mix of flavours far better than the sum of their components, and for greater than a century, wa has been a guideline in Japanese whisky distillation.
Japanese whisky is understood the world over for the harmonious mix of its signature drops – varied whiskies aged in various kinds of casks, comparable to American and Japanese Mizunara oak barrels, which have develop into synonymous with this distinctive a part of the world.
This philosophy of concord and steadiness in whisky originated with Suntory’s founder, Shinjiro Torii, and has been handed down via the various generations of grasp blenders all through this Home’s esteemed historical past.
A visionary chief and founding father of Japanese whisky manufacturing, Torii established Japan’s first distillery, Yamazaki, in Osaka within the early Nineteen Twenties.
The area’s humid local weather, along with the plush pure environment, the place three rivers meet, created optimum circumstances for ageing whisky.
For greater than 100 years, the distinctive setting on this nook of the world has been intrinsic to the Home of Suntory’s specialised maturation course of, rigorously influencing the dram over a long time and imparting a nuanced but balanced flavour to every of Suntory’s signature blends.
Torii’s cautious choice of the distillery’s location embodied his deep understanding of the significance of nature in whisky manufacturing; an extension of the model’s enduring ethos of wa — concord between the product and its setting. To today, Yamazaki is utilized in Suntory’s most celebrated releases.
In Japan, the assumption that point and persons are interconnected is commonly mirrored within the idea of Ma, referring to the area between issues and the importance of the passage of time.
For a world-leading whisky distillery like Suntory, Ma takes on a profound position. It’s not simply in regards to the literal time concerned within the ageing means of whisky but in addition in regards to the individuals who contribute to each stage of its creation.
Ma represents the concept each second within the whisky-making course of is effective, from the choice of grains to the cautious mixing and the gradual, deliberate maturation. But it presents the folks concerned on this course of – grasp blenders and distillers – as integral components of the whisky’s distinctive journey.
“On the Home of Suntory Whisky, we’re by no means nearly defending our heritage and lineage, difficult conventions and embracing innovation, is what drives us.”
Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory’s Chief Blender
These guiding ideas have continued to form the repute and world-leading high quality of every of the signature drops produced by the Home of Suntory… and the revered distillery’s Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated could possibly be one of the unique and revolutionary whiskies ever produced.
Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated
This distinctive creation is a testomony to the journey initiated by Suntory’s visionary founder; whose legacy of workmanship and dedication to high quality continues to affect the model as we speak. His grandson, Shingo Torii, continues to function custodian of this revered model because the Third Era Grasp Blender of Suntory, carrying ahead the household’s custom of excellence and innovation into as we speak’s up to date luxurious market.
Impressed by the philosophy of making concord and capturing the essence of time, the aim for Hibiki’s 40-12 months-Outdated was to craft a whisky that embodies the sweetness and refinement that comes with ageing. This restricted version launch is an beautiful mix of assorted malt and grain whiskies, sourced from Suntory’s famend distilleries—Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita.
The 1978 Yamazaki American oak is the first malt that performs a key position on this mix. That is then blended with choose whiskies aged in quite a lot of casks, together with the signature Japanese Mizunara oak, including layers of complexity and depth. Every component is rigorously chosen to create a harmonious orchestra of flavours.
The result’s a spirit that not solely delivers a nuanced style, but in addition visually represents the class and passage of time, reflecting the intricate artistry of Japanese whisky-making and a pioneering distillery on the peak of its powers.
On the nostril, the Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated reveals dried apricot, ripened biwa, Japanese loquat with hints of lemon peel and clove. It’s an alluring scent, echoing the pure environment distinctive to Suntory’s distinct places throughout Japan.
To style, Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated is a real masterpiece: it’s candy, citrusy and completely balanced. Instantly, you’re met with dried fruits and brown sugars from the hand-selected Spanish casks, giving method to candy acacia honey that’s completely accentuated by toasted cacao.
The end is easy and alluring, with warming notes of cinnamon and incense, thanks largely to the Japanese Mizunara casks unique to the area.
Restricted to simply 400 bottles globally, Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated is a masterpiece of recent distillation; a celebration of centuries-old craft that has been distilled via the generations for an indelible ultimate drop. Hibiki 40-12 months-Outdated will likely be launched in Australia on 4th October, retailing at $75,000 AUD per bottle.
