Hibiki Aged 40 Years ” on sale on May 27, 2025. Without a doubt, the best blended whiskey in Japan is released. The application period is until November 12!
Suntory has decided to release a whisky that will be the most expensive and the best ever. The previously released “Yamazaki 55nen” was priced at 3,000,000 yen (excluding tax), but this “Hibiki 40nen” will be priced at 4,000,000 yen (excluding tax), the highest price ever paid by Suntory.
What kind of whisky is it?
1. Hibiki Aged 40 Years
The beauty of harmony where time and technique resonate with each other.
Hibiki 40 years has been aged for more than 40 years over the course of four seasons,
Each has a rich individuality.
Each one of them is carefully evaluated by the blender,
The blender then blends them delicately to create a rich harmony.
The blends are then blended with the finest ingredients to create a rich harmony,
The unique and beautiful aroma of “Hibiki Aged 40 Years” was created through the aging process of time and nature, and through human refinement.Harmony of long-lasting amber
Hibiki is made from sake that has been aged for more than 40 years. It was also a challenge to create an elegant and gorgeous aroma typical of “Hibiki” by using rich yet subdued sake. By carefully selecting the original sake that had been passed down through the generations, and repeating the delicate blending process, the image that gradually formed was that of a famous historic temple. The image that gradually formed was that of a famous historical temple, where beauty and serenity, honed over time, coexist and resonate with each other. It is a harmony that only “Hibiki Aged 40 Years” can produce. You can enjoy the taste of the dry and tepid taste behind the gorgeous aroma that is typical of “Hibiki”.
Tasting Notes
The Kiretan taste behind the gorgeous aromaColor
Lustrous amber
Fragrance
Aged opulence, loquat, dried lemon peel, cloves
Taste
Soft mouthfeel, yuzu nectar, roasted tea
Aftertaste
Pleasant oriental aftertaste, incense
1-1. whisky for blending
The original whiskies used in this product are those produced at Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries.
The Yamazaki distillery has over 100 years of history, while the Hakushu and Chita distilleries have over 50 years of history. We used long-aged sake of more than 40 years from these three distilleries.
We would like to introduce some of the publicly available original sake.
- 1978 YAMAZAKI AMERICAN OAK
The rich aroma of the long-aged original sake brings out a smooth sweetness in the aroma that is typical of “Hibiki”. - 1981 HAKUSHU PEATED
Hakushu sake that has been aged for over 40 years gives Hibiki Aged 40 Years a soft mouthfeel and depth of flavor. -
1979 CHITA GRAIN
The delicate texture of the long-aged Chita Grain meets the richness of the high-malt-aged malt wines from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries to create the supple and beautiful harmony of “Hibiki Aged 40 Years”.
Although these are the three officially announced bottlings, the 40-year mark suggests that other bottles made in 1984 at one of the distilleries may have been used.
Depending on the size and variety of the cask, after 40 years, it is likely to be about half of its capacity or even less, considering Suntory’s share of Angels.
1-2. Design
The design is decorated with details of Japanese traditions such as maki-e, urushi lacquer, and kumi-himo (braided cord).
There is a video presented by Suntory official at the link below, which I hope you will watch.
Crystal bottles adorned with traditional brilliance
Hibiki 40nen” is a bottle of beauty in harmony through the past and the future. We chose maki-e, a traditional Japanese craft, to decorate the bottle that encloses this special amber. Maki-e is a technique of decorating a pattern drawn in lacquer by sprinkling gold powder and other materials on it. The delicate and gorgeous expression of maki-e is deeply resonant with the taste of “Hibiki Aged 40 Years. This technique has been used on the surface of lacquerware since ancient times, but for “Hibiki Aged 40 Years,” it has been applied to glass. On the surface of the special glass cap, which is as clear as water, a master maki-e craftsman has painted flowers and plants of the four seasons in gold. The design symbolizes the Japanese spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons that have nurtured “Hibiki Aged 40 Years”. The flowers and grasses on the white butterfly shell medallion inserted in the upper part of the cap are also maki-e. The “Hibiki Aged 40 Years” is decorated with the skills of Japanese craftsmen who have pursued beauty while preserving the quintessential Japanese spirit.
Wrapping with Japanese nature and Japanese spirit
Hibiki” is steeped in Japanese nature and spiritual culture. This special bottle is housed in a 12-sided wooden box that symbolizes the 12 months of the year. Just as the seasons change with each month, 12 different types of trees, including cherry, quercus crispula, Japanese hazel, and Japanese cinnamon, were selected to create a box that beautifully captures the individuality of each tree. The flowers and plants of spring, summer, fall, and winter that surround the box also express the time that “Hibiki Aged 40 Years” has passed through the four seasons. The braided cord sealing the box is a traditional craft that has been handed down to the present day while changing its use over time to include armory and decoration. It has been loved not only for its practical use, but also as a cultural expression of the Japanese people’s spirit of “to tie a bond” or “to create a bond”. Hibiki Aged 40 Years” expresses the desire to connect the past with the future.
Reference: Suntory Whisky Hibiki 40nen Special Website
1-3. Product Specifications & Lottery Information
| Product name | Hibiki Aged 40 Years |
| Sake type | Blended Whisky |
| Cask Sake | Yamazaki American Oak, Hakushu Peated, Chita Grain |
| Number of bottles | Limited to 100 bottles by lottery |
| Alcohol content | 43% alcohol by volume |
| Suggested Retail Price | 4,400,000 yen (tax included) |
Application period: Tuesday, November 12, until 23:59
Winners will be notified by lottery and will receive a letter confirming the printing of their names, which will be printed on the product and shipped sequentially on or after May 27, 2025.
Lottery sales application for the right to purchase a bottle of “Suntory Whiskey Hibiki 40years old
2. What is Suntory Yamazaki/Hakushu/Chita Distillery?
2-1. Yamazaki Distillery
| Name of Distillery | Suntory Yamazaki Distillery |
| Location | 5-2-1, Yamazaki, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka 618-0001, Japan |
| Start of operation | 1923 |
Yamazaki Distillery was established in 1923 as the first malt whiskey distillery in Japan. It was a time when whiskey was still a rare drink for the general public. Yamazaki distillery was established in 1923, at a time when whiskey was still a rarity among the general public. With this passion, Shinjiro Torii set out to make whiskey.
Shinjiro insisted on the Japanese climate. Water” and “environment” were especially important. Yamazaki is a village of famous water called Minaseno, which was written in Manyo poetry.
The water in this area, loved by the tea master Sen no Rikyu, was ideal for whiskey production. The natural environment was also perfect.
Yamazaki, located southwest of Kyoto and surrounded by thick bamboo forests at the foot of Mt. Located at the confluence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu Rivers, and surrounded by mountains, the area is prone to thick fog and has a mild and humid climate, which are ideal conditions for the maturation of whiskey.
Shinjiro decided to make Yamazaki the home of his whisky, saying, “Yamazaki is the only place with this water and climate to make good whisky.
Reference: YAMAZAKI MOMENTS
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
1923 Yamazaki Distillery was built. First whiskey distillery in Japan.
1929: The first domestic whiskey “Shirofuda” is released.
1937 “Kakubin” (square bottle) is released
1984 Single malt whiskey “Yamazaki” is released
1992 Single Malt Whiskey ” Yamazaki 18years ” is released.
1998 Single Malt Whiskey “Yamazaki 25years” was released.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
For more information about Yamazaki Distillery, please refer to this article.
2-2. Hakushu Distillery
| Distillery name | Suntory Hakushu Distillery |
| Location | 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi 408-0316 |
| Start of operation | 1973 |
In 1973, more than 50 years after Japan’s first whiskey was produced, the Hakushu Distillery was completed in a lush forest of approximately 820,000 square meters at the foot of Mount Kai-komagatake in the Southern Alps, blessed with abundant nature.
The brewing water is surrounded by the moist atmosphere of the forest, and the Hakushu malt is made from the pure and soft natural water of the Southern Alps, polished by granite. The long maturation process amidst the changes of Japan’s unique four seasons is the source of the aromatic and refreshing Hakushu flavor.
In 2014, four pot stills were added at a cost of 1 billion yen, bringing the total to 16. A wide variety of pot stills of different sizes and shapes are used to make different types of sake. The cellar is a high-ceilinged rack type. Temperature and humidity are not controlled by human hands, but left to nature.
1973: Hakushu Distillery built
1994 Hakushu 12 Year Old is released
2006 Hakushu 18years old is released
2008 Hakushu 25years old was released
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Image Exhibit: Suntory Official Mori no Distillery
For more information about Hakushu Distillery, please also see this article.
2-3. Chita Distillery
| Distillery Name | Suntory Chita Distillery |
| Location | 16 Kitahama-cho, Chita-shi, Aichi 478-0046, Japan |
| Start of operation | 1973 Chita Distillery |
Chita Distillery, located on the Chita Peninsula overlooking Ise Bay, is a grain whiskey distillery established by the Suntory Group in cooperation with the Zen-Noh Group and is one of the three domestic whiskey distilleries of the Suntory Group, along with the Yamazaki and Hakushu malt whiskey distilleries. Here, they have supported grain whiskey made from corn. The Chita distillery uses a continuous distillation process to produce three types of grain whiskey, clean, medium, and heavy, which is unique in the world.
 |
 |
 |
|
Image source: What is Suntory Whisky “Chita”?
For more information on the Chita Distillery, please see this article.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
