(Photo: Suntory)
The House of Suntory announced Tuesday that it is continuing its coveted Tsukuriwake series with a quartet of whiskies that pay homage to the rich legacy of Japanese distillation.
Following the footsteps of 2022's Tsukuriwake selection, the spirits giant recruited chief blender Shinji Fukuyo to craft four expressions that celebrate "artisanship through a diversity of making." While previous releases achieved that goal by highlighting bespoke cask finishes, this year's collection takes a deeper look at every step in the process, ranging from terroir to peat to distillation.
The first of the bunch is Yamazaki Golden Promise, bottled at 48% ABV with a suggested retail price of $465. As its name implies, the expression is distilled using golden promise barley, a two-row grain first commercially grown in Scotland in the mid-1960s. Distilled in 2009 before aging in American Oak casks, the bottling is said to feature notes of orange marmalade and custard.
Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt continues the Scottish influences at an identical alcohol content and suggested price. According to the brand, the water and maturation process used in the expression "yields a balanced sweetness that complements the smoke." Expect flavors of bitter orange citrus and brown sugar on the palate.
Next comes the 2024 Edition of Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt, which notches the price up to $1,200. The bottling was first introduced in 2022 to celebrate Suntory's 100th anniversary and has reportedly been brought back due to popular demand. We had a chance to try it during its initial run and were impressed by its gorgeous viscosity and delicately sweet flavors of honey, almonds and peaches.
Last but not least is Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara, another continuation from the 100th anniversary collection. Well-regarded for its spicy, typically vanilla-forward flavor, Mizunara oak is a mainstay in high-end Japanese and Scotch whiskies for good reason. We showered this bottling with high praise upon release for its distinctly herbal mix of clove, sandalwood, black tea and anise. Evidently, Suntory knows it has a hit on its hands: Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara will go on sale at $1,500.
Those hoping to find bottles from the collection can check out the Suntory website here. Be warned that prices will likely increase sharply after release; the complete 2022 Tsukuriwake Selection is currently on sale through retailers for around $8,000.
[botmc-promo]
