Japanese Whisky

Malt whiskeys matured 12 years or longer are perfectly matched with mellow grain whiskies of the same age to create this Hibiki offering. Also included is some whisky from casks formerly used in long-term aging of Japanese plum liqueur, which helps bring out the sweet floral notes on the nose and palate that Suntory whisky is known for. Adding venerable malt aged more than 30 years further brings out the bouquet and adds body to the palate.

Since opening in 2016, the Tsunuki Distillery has been garnering plenty of attention and snatching down awards for their incredible Japanese Single Malts. The Tsunuki 2024 is now the 5th main release coming from the distillery and continues to refine the deep, expressive flavor that they have become known for. This edition marks the first inclusion Virgin Spanish Oak casks as the primary maturation vessel. Supported by ex-bourbon barrels, as well as sherry casks, this latest edition yields beautifully complex aromatics of strawberry jam, orange leather, and red bean pastry. Classic Tsunuki flavors of bitter chocolate, black tea, and pastry cream are complimented with fresh notes of blackberries and juicy oranges. The brilliant finish is full of bittersweet cocoa, camp smoke, and lemon peels.

A pure malt whisky that is characterized by the deep and flavorful richness with excellent balance that is unique to its age. A blend of rich ripe fruit and aged cask on the nose with complex changes in character as the finish approaches.

The US Edition 2024 is an exciting new single malt whisky made by the Chichibu Distillery exclusively for the United States. With every year comes a wildly different version of this whisky than its predecessor and the 2024 is no different. This unpeated single malt is vatted from 16 distinct barrels ranging from 4 to 10 years of age that were matured in 15 ex-bourbon and 1 refilled sherry hogshead barrel. Two of the ex-bourbon barrels contained whisky that was floor malted at Chichibu, a practice that is uncommon even amongst many Scottish contemporaries for its laborious, less efficient nature. However, this process is nothing less than iconic to Chichibu, as this whisky exemplifies what the distillery does best - create layers of complex fruit, spice, and confectionary flavors that come together harmoniously in one beautiful expression.

Crafted at Japan’s oldest distillery, Yamazaki is the pioneer of single malt Japanese whisky. A defining element of its character is Mizunara, the rare Japanese oak known for its complexity. Essential to Yamazaki’s core expressions, Mizunara casks shape the whisky’s multi-layered profile with notes of sandalwood, coconut and incense. Though difficult to work with, this mystical wood rewards patience and skill. After more than 18 years of maturation, the true essence of Mizunara is revealed in a whisky that is rich, deep and unmistakably Yamazaki.

Limited edition pure malt Japanese whisky distilled at Komagatake Distillery (fka Mars Shinshu) in Nagano and Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima, and matured at the Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar on Yakushima Island, Japan
The 6th release in the Mars Bakemono series, which highlights illustrations from the famous Bakemono Zukushi “Monster” Scroll, an illustrated text (emaki) from Japan’s Edo Period (17th–19th centuries) by an unknown artist featuring various yōkai (magical creatures from Japanese folklore)
Vatting of Cask #2009 and #2283 distilled at Mars Komagatake and Mars Tsunuki distilleries
100% malted barley lightly peated to an average of 3.5 ppm and twice distilled in copper pot stills
Aged 5–6 years in separate ex-bourbon barrels at the Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar before blending and bottling; distilled in March 2018 and April 2019 and bottled in May 2024
Non-chill filtered; 55% ABV
The sixth release in Mars’s Bakemono series, and the second that was matured at the Yakushima Aging Cellar (denoted by the initials “Y.A.”), this pure malt vatting depicts Nobusuma, a bat- or flying-squirrel-like creature that inhabits forests and is thought to be a tanuki, or shape-shifting creature. Though many tanuki were depicted as comical after the Edo Period, they were originally thought to be quite sinister; the Nobusuma, for instance, is known for attacking travelers’ faces and sucking their blood. No matter the intentions of this tanuki, it makes a compelling mascot for a blend that also represents multiple concepts, combining distillate produced by two separate master distillers in Nagano and Kagoshima before being matured and blended on Yakushima Island, a UNESCO Heritage Site where constant rainfall and subtropical temperatures place their own stamp on the whiskies of Mars.

*Bottled for Japan*

Hibiki means “Resonance” in Japanese. From its launch in 1989 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Suntory, Hibiki embodies the Suntory philosophy to live in harmony with nature and people. As the Founding House of Japanese Whisky and A House of Master Blenders, the House of Suntory has gone to great lengths to explore the breadth and depth of what Harmony can mean for a blend. Every Hibiki expression is one of the most sought after blends in the world where every Hibiki expression is meticulously crafted for us to discover a different kind of Harmony. Achieving the right balance and orchestration proved to be a great challenge from the start since the Sakura cask is one with strong character that can easily become overbearing. 

After much trial and error, we found that the grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask best elevated the overall balance as a Blossoming Harmony slowly unfolding. The end result is a particularly unique expression of Hibiki. The invitation of an enticing floral bouquet, followed by the signature Hibiki depth and complexity of honey, candied orange peel, jasmine and chocolatey decadence, all climaxing to a surprising finish of bitter sweet spicy notes.

The House of Suntory is proud to introduce this new limited edition Hibiki release that celebrates Japanese artistry and elevate nature’s beauty in partnership with painter Hiroshi Senju. A specially commissioned work overflowing with elegance and harmony will complement limited numbers of Hibiki 21 Years Old. 

Senju’s oeuvre explores modernity through large-scale waterfalls painted in the nihonga style, which blends traditional Japanese techniques with western influences. The piece Senju crafted for this release, Waterfall in Colors ‘Hibiki’, captures the drama and tranquility at the base of a waterfall in beautiful purple hues inspired by the Kokimurasaki gradient, a deep purple associated with Japanese nobility.

The limited edition Hibiki 21YO features the piece on the bottle label and comes in a beautiful printed gift box displaying Senju’s work of art.

This partnership was borne from a shared ethos between Hiroshi Senju and Hibiki that respects tradition and honors nature while pursuing bold new creative visions. Senju created this painting by filling canvas panels with water, adding natural pigments made from crushed oyster shells, and allowing the water's flow to guide the colors freely. 

This practice of letting the materials dictate the creative process is mirrored by the way Hibiki allows natural ingredients and climate to guide the production process. In their own ways, both Hiroshi Senju and Hibiki Whisky tell the story of traditional Japanese artisanship inspiring modern expressions.

Hibiki means “Resonance” in Japanese. From its launch in 1989 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Suntory, Hibiki embodies the Suntory philosophy to live in harmony with nature and people. As the Founding House of Japanese Whisky and A House of Master Blenders, the House of Suntory has gone to great lengths to explore the breadth and depth of what Harmony can mean for a blend. Every Hibiki expression is one of the most sought after blends in the world where every Hibiki expression is meticulously crafted for us to discover a different kind of Harmony. Achieving the right balance and orchestration proved to be a great challenge from the start since the Sakura cask is one with strong character that can easily become overbearing. 

After much trial and error, we found that the grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask best elevated the overall balance as a Blossoming Harmony slowly unfolding. The end result is a particularly unique expression of Hibiki. The invitation of an enticing floral bouquet, followed by the signature Hibiki depth and complexity of honey, candied orange peel, jasmine and chocolatey decadence, all climaxing to a surprising finish of bitter sweet spicy notes.

Limited edition single cask single malt Japanese whisky produced at Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima, Japan
The 5th release in the Mars Bakemono series, which highlights illustrations from the famous Bakemono Zukushi “Monster” Scroll, an illustrated text (emaki) from Japan’s Edo Period (17th–19th centuries) by an unknown artist featuring various yōkai (magical creatures from Japanese folklore)
Cask #T719
100% malted barley peated to 50 ppm and twice distilled in copper pot stills
Aged 5 years 11 months in an unspecified ex-sherry hogshead; distilled in June 2018 and bottled in May 2024
No added coloring
Non-chill filtered; 60% ABV
This is the fifth release in Mars’s Bakemono series and the second to come from the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in southern Kagoshima. It depicts a creeping old man named Mi-no-kedachi, or “standing up body hair.” This unsettling, hunched grandpa is theorized to be a spirit of fear or fret. Best shake off the shivers with a dram of full-bodied, peated whisky.

A pure malt whisky that is characterized by the deep and flavorful richness with excellent balance that is unique to its age. A blend of rich ripe fruit and aged cask on the nose with complex changes in character as the finish approaches.

*Only 182 Bottles were made.*

From its Mizunara wash backs and small stills with steep lyne arms to the fact that the mashman uses a wooden paddle to stir the mash, Chichibu is a hands-on distillery with quality as an intrinsic focus. With the ground now broken on a blending room, and an off-site cooperage, Ichiro Akuto's distillery - formed from the ashes of his grandfather's Hanyu distillery - is one of the finest producers in Japan. With the perfect climate of humid summers and cold winters, Chichibu is an ideal location for whisky production and has become a huge part of the Japanese whisky revolution.

The first bottles from the Chichibu Intergalactic Series were released in 2019 with the labels and idea coming from Dutch bar owner, Werry van Leeuwen, and Vienna Distribution immediately chose to progress with the two-cask set. The labels feature retro Sci-Fi illustrations. When the bottles were put up for online sale, they sold out in seconds!

Edition #1
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2019
Cask Type: 3rd Fill Bourbon Barrel
Cask Number: 2112
63.5% ABV / 70cl

100th Anniversary Limited Edition. This Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years in solely Mizunara casks, created in honor of Suntory Whisky's centenary. The result showcases the rare, distinctive beauty of Mizunara oak, which is considered the signature “enhancer” of Yamazaki, providing unique Japanese character and elegance. We invite you to experience this distinct and elegant single malt whisky.