-The Top Guide for the Oldest Hibiki Ever Produced.
The History of Hibiki (響)
Suntory’s founder and first Master Blender Shinjiro Tori had a dream: to craft a Japanese whisky blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship.
Subtle, refined and complex, the whiskies from the House of Suntory challenged to achieve
“Harmony in every sip”.
HIBIKI, meaning “resonance” was perfected by the second Master Blender, Keizo Saji in 1989 to commemorate Suntory’s 90th anniversary.
HIBIKI embodies the Suntory philosophy of living in harmony with nature and people. Today third Master Blender, Shingo Tori commits to both protect and elevate what is HIBIKI.
The House of Suntory proudly unveils HIBIKI 40 Years Old.
A Timeless Harmony of Grandeur honoring the provenance and legacy of the House.
Hibiki 40 Years Old (700ml)
43% ABV / 86 Proof
(The highest age statement of Hibiki series..)
Hibiki 40 Outdoor Shoot - @JapanWhisky
Justice Served for The Hibiki 40 - @JapanWhisky (Indoor Shoot)
HIBIKI 40 Years Old is a blend of exquisite aged whiskies carefully passed on from previous Master Blenders.
It dares to question what is harmony?
What is age? What is wisdom?
A blend where past and future meet in Harmony.
Forty years.
Forty seasonal cycles that have aged and distinguished Suntory’s malt whiskies in this blend.
Meticulously selected for individual character and artisanally blended to orchestrate a perfect symphony.
Aged by time and nature, refined by human hand, HIBIKI 40 Years Old demonstrates the Art of Japanese Whisky.
This golden amber blend comes in an understated crystal bottle adorned with the finest traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
The delicate interplay of lacquer and gold in the maki-e work and inlay symbolizes the harmony that is HIBIKI’s essence.
The wooden box containing the bottle, and the Kumihimo (a cord braided using a traditional technique) with which it is secured, are works of Japanese craftsmanship in themselves, made using techniques passed down over the ages.
Together these traditional arts, perfected over centuries, serve as the ideal complement to showcase the wonder that is HIBIKI 40 Years Old.
Harmony in Golden Amber
Suntory's Chief Blender - Shinji Fukuyo (Fifth Generation)
Harmony in Golden Amber
(A blend of whiskies aged over decades)
Creating a HIBIKI blend with whiskies aged for over forty years presented a challenge.
How can Suntory Whisky achieve the elegant floral profile that defines HIBIKI using whiskies possessing a rich, well-matured flavor?
Malt and grain whiskies inherited from the past were blended over and over until gradually a definite image took shape: an image evocative of an ancient Buddhist temple, where beauty refined by the passage of time exists in harmony with tranquility and restraint.
Only HIBIKI 40 Years Old can deliver such harmony in a glass.
Savor the refined simplicity deep within the floral notes of this blended whisky.
It is classic HIBIKI.
What is inside Hibiki 40?
3 Main component whiskies in Hibiki 40:
1978 Yamazaki American Oak, 1981 Hakushu Peated Malt, 1979 Chita Grain.
The component whiskies that makes up Hibiki 40,
1. 1978 Yamazaki American Oak
One of it is 1978 Yamazaki American Oak
Located at the foot of Mt. Tennozan on the periphery of Kyoto, Yamazaki has since olden times been renowned for its pure waters.
Lying at the confluence of three rivers, its unusual topography and humid climate make it the ideal environment for aging whisky, evident in the quality of whiskies produced at the Yamazaki Distillery for many years.
The malt whiskies produced here are characterized by their multi-layered taste with fruit and Mizunara aromas.
From these, American oak malt whisky 1978 was selected to form the core of HIBIKI 40 Years Old.
Possessing the kind of rich taste profile found only in extra-aged whiskies, it lends a sweetness to HIBIKI’s characteristic floral aroma.
Yamazaki lies in the confluence of 3 rivers, renowned for its water quality.
2. 1981 Hakushu Peated Malt
Also known as Suntory’s mountain forest distillery, the Hakushu Distillery in Yamanashi Prefecture lies in magnificent natural surroundings at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps.
It produces a wide range of malt whiskies. Natural groundwater that has passed under the Southern Alps is used for mashing.
The malt whisky produced here - made with exceptionally soft mountain water containing just the right amount of minerals - is distinguished by its light, gently smoky palate.
After being aged for more than forty years, it assumes a complex, smooth flavor. This aged Hakushu whisky is what gives HIBIKI 40 Years Old its softness and depth.
3. 1979 Chita Grain
The Chita Distillery, situated in Aichi Prefecture at the base of the Chita Peninsula jutting into Ise Bay, is one of the three whisky distilleries that Suntory operates in Japan.
It is one of the few distilleries in the world that produces a wide assortment of grain whiskies. Chita’s clean and clear taste is indispensable to HIBIKI, for it harmonizes the malt whiskies while bringing our their distinctive characteristics.
Chita grain whisky aged for more than four decades possesses a delicate quality. This, coupled with the profound flavors of aged malt whiskies from the Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries produces the beautifully supple harmony that sets HIBIKI 40 Years Old apart.
Hibiki 40 book showcasing every step of how Hibiki 40 is created.
Every. Single. Detail. of Hibiki 40 has been meticulously crafted.
Hibiki 40 Bottle Cap
(Mother of Pearl)
Flowers are drawn in lines with brushes of various thicknesses.
In maki-e, fine particles of gold are affixed with a coat of lacquer and given a shine.
Flowers are depicted in great detail by drawing lines with brushes of various thicknesses and using gold particles of different sizes.
Hibiki 40 Bottle Logo Design Procedure
Chinkin or gold inlay incised on the surface
Chinkin or gold inlay is used for the logo on the bottle. The lines of the design are incised on the surface, coated with lacquer, and filled with metal powder.
Metal particles of different sizes are used for the kanji ‘響’ and the number “40”, enhancing the radiance
Hibiki 40 Crafted Box Design Story
The beautifully crafted box is made of twelve different types of wood, each with its own character like the months of the year.
Hibiki is infused with the beauty of Japanese nature and the Japanese spirit.
This special Hibiki 40 whisky comes in a twelve-sided wooden box symbolizing the twelve seasons.
The beautifully crafted box is made of twelve different types of wood, each with its own character like the months of the year: cherrywood, Mizunara oak, Hazel, Katsura, and so forth.
The seasonal flowers depicted on the box represent the many cycles of the seasons HIBIKI 40 Years Old has been through.
The box is secured with Kumihimo, which has been used not only for armor over the centuries, but also for decorative purposes and an evolving range of other applications.
Nor do they serve only practical purposes. They are also beloved by the Japanese as a visual metaphor for the bonds of matrimony and other forms of personal connection.
The Kumihimo adorning HIBIKI 40 Years Old symbolizes its vision of linking the past and future.
Hibiki 40 Black Paper Label (Echizen Washi - 1,500-year History)
The black label is made of Echizen Washi, which has a 1,500-year history.
Black Japanese paper beautifully complements the gold logo, each label is carefully hand-torn.
Meet the Team behind the photography and article of Hibiki 40 (JapanWhisky)
Kai is the GOAT, I asked him to One-Up Suntory’s photoshoot, he delivered.
Well… Her facial expressions says everything you need to know about her..
A Japanese Whisky Fanatic.
If you would like to place an order or ask anything about the Hibiki 40, don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email: japanwhiskysg@gmail.com , if you want to reach us via whatsapp: +65 82810414. (JapanWhisky)
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