The House of Suntory Announces Hibiki 40 Year Old
The House of Suntory has announced the launch of Hibiki 40 Year Old, the oldest blended whisky in brand history.
Crafted by Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, Hibiki 40 Year Old is a blend from all three of Suntory’s distilleries – Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita – and includes whiskies matured in American oak, Spanish oak, and Mizunara Japanese oak.
Bottled at 43% ABV, Hibiki 40 Year Old is described as having aromas of “Japanese loquat, dry lemon peel, and clove,” and flavors of “pure acacia honey and dry fig on the palate, culminating in an aromatic aftertaste.”
Hibiki 40 Year Old is housed in a wooden box 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. Renowned Japanese washi artist, Eriko Horiki, hand crafted the washi label on the box.
The bottle inside the box 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 Japanese heritage and tradition.
Hibiki 40 Year Old is limited to only 400 bottles and will be available in select markets for a suggested retail price of $35,000.
Source: The House of Suntory.