It's been the hush talk of the town the new Hibiki 40 Year Old that is due to be launched in the coming months!

This new expression tops the flagship Hibiki 30 Year Old and the Hibiki 35 Year Old's that come in special Arita decanters, making it the oldest Hibiki expression till date.

Hibiki is of course Suntory's premium blend of Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita Japanese whiskies, and has a history going back to 1989, when it was created to celebrate Suntory's 90th Anniversary. Whilst the components of the blend are never disclosed, components that have been once used includes the likes of umeshu aged Yamazaki single malts.

For the Hibiki 40 Year Old, a special maki-e mother of pearl inlay has been applied to adorn the crystal decanter, along with special gold lacquer. It also comes in a special wooden box made from 12 kinds of Japanese woods including pine and zelkova, sporting 12 faces, each representing a month in the year. All across the wooden packaging, you'll find local seasonal flowers and plants depicting the four seasons of Japan.

Official Tasting Notes

Color: Golden Amber

Nose: Notes of dried apricot and ripened biwa (Japanese loquat), balanced with subtle hints of lemon peel and clove.

Taste: Dried fig mingles with subtle undertones of yuzu and the sweetness of acacia honey, all wrapped up in the smoothness of toasty roasted cacao.

Finish: The finish is long and soothing, with the warm embrace of incense spiced with cinnamon and the distinctive presence of Mizunara (Japanese oak).

The price set on the Hibiki 40 Year Old is a whopping ¥6,600,000 (or US$45,730).

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team