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Ballot: Hibiki Aged 40 Years
The ballot opens at 12pm on Saturday 5th October 2024, and will end at 12pm on Monday 7th October 2024, with the draw taking place the following day. A deposit of £5000 will be required and held for the duration of the ballot.
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A bit about the product: A highly anticipated release from The House of Suntory, Hibiki Aged 40 Years is an ultra-limited release blending together malts from renowned distilleries Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita.
Despite its maturity, this expression is about more than the time it spent in its cask. Preserving and honouring tradition whilst finding new and innovative routes into the ever-expanding world of whisky.
“At the House of Suntory Whisky, we are never just about protecting our heritage and lineage, challenging conventions and embracing innovation, is what drives us.”
Shinji Fukuyo, The House of Suntory Chief Blender
To further emphasise the mastery of Japanese craftmanship that went into creating this liquid, the bottling and packaging of this ultra rare product has also been a carefully curated work of art. In partnership with renowned Japanese washi artist Eriko Horiki, The House of Suntory commissioned delicate hand crafted labels on the 40 Years Old box.
Alongside this, the bottle itself is made of crystal glass, featuring 30 facets and decorated with elegant mother-of-pearl inlay, and gold lacquer. The bottle is then encased in a wooden box made with a combination of 12 different Japanese wood varieties, and with 12 faces, representing the months of the year. Around the box, flowers and grasses of the four seasons are etched in traditional Japanese maki-e lacquer, linking the past and future through this new blend.
“I would like people to enjoy the pure aroma that has sharpened over the years; the tranquillity of old temples and storehouses and the nostalgic warm feeling that accompanies them […] Working with unique and special whiskies aged over 40 years was an invaluable experience […] It brings a sense of reverence for the legacy left by previous generations of master blenders and distillers who produced these whiskies […] The complexity and depth of the unblended whiskies reflect the passage of time, and it was my responsibility to honour and amplify these qualities.”
Shinji Fukuyo, The House of Suntory Chief Blender
The whisky is bottled at 43% ABV, after having been aged in a mix of casks, including mizunara Japanese oak, Spanish oak and American oak.
Palate: Yuzu, acacia honey, fig, roasted cacao.
Nose: Japanese loquat, hints of lemon peel, clove, and dried apricot.
Finish: Aromatics, cinnamon, Japanese oak.
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