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House of Suntory Reveals Hibiki 40 Year Old

This is the oldest whisky blend ever released by the acclaimed Japanese producer.

Hibiki 40 Year Old is the oldest blended whisky in Suntory's history / ©House of Suntory

Established Japanese whisky maker House of Suntory has just announced the release of Hibiki 40 Years Old, the oldest blended whisky ever released by the historic brand.

This new exclusive blend is comprised of numerous whiskies that come from all three of Suntory’s distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita. Each of the whiskies included has been matured for over 40 years, resulting in a final liquid that brings both complex flavors and aromas.

The House of Suntory is pitching Hibiki 40 Year Old as the culmination of decades of expertise and experience in the art of blending, suggesting it is ‘the pinnacle of generations of learning and craftsmanship’.

This blend contains whiskies from all three of Suntory’s distilleries / ©House of Suntory

Crafted by Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo, Hibiki 40 Year Old provides aromas of Japanese loquat, dry lemon peel and clove on the nose. While the palate brings pure acacia honey and dry fig. This is a subtle, refined whisky that Fukuyo suggests has an element of subduedness akin to that of an old temple.

“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.

In this release, Suntory has taken things a step further, not only releasing a special liquid but also a decanter and box that exudes a true respect for Japanese craftsmanship. Suntory worked closely with Japanese washi artist Eriko Horiki who hand-crafted the washi label that can be found on the Hibiki 40 Year Old box.

The box is manufactured out of 12 separate types of wood, all of which grow in Japan / ©House of Suntory

The bottle itself is comprised of crystal glass with 30 facets that have been crafted by a glassware maker who creates pieces of the Japanese imperial family. The decanter is then decorated with traditional Japanese Maki-e, a mother-of-pearl inlay, and a gold lacquer.

The wooden box it arrives in is a statement in itself, a twelve-sided shape formed from 12 separate kinds of Japanese wood to represent the months of the year. Meanwhile Japan’s four seasons are represented through flowers and grasses depicted in maki-e lacquer on its exterior.