FROM YAMAZAKI,
The birthplace of Japanese Whisky.
Introducing Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 55 Years Old. The oldest single malt whisky in the history of the House of Suntory. Bottled in 2020.
CRAFTED BY TIME.
In its much anticipated first release of the Yamazaki 55, the House of Suntory pays tribute to the passage of time. It was in Showa 38 (1963) that Kotobukiya was renamed Suntory after Keizo Saji succeeded his father, founder Shinjiro Torii as the House’s Second Generation Master Blender. Keizo was charged to bring his father’s dream to life, creating not only the quality liquid gold but a quintessentially Japanese experience and lifestyle that rooted Suntory Whisky as the people’s choice.
Today, the House of Suntory is not only regarded as one of the most awarded distillers but as a House that has consistently introduced Japanese Whisky as a cultural experience to the world.
Keizo Saji and Shinjiro Torii
A spiritual blend highlighting the Mizunara cask whisky distilled in 1960 under the supervision of founder Shinjiro Torii and the White Oak cask whisky distilled in 1964. Each matured, amber drop reveals a complex and mystical Yamazaki-ness the world has yet to discover.
Yamazaki 55 is the House of Suntory’s tribute to the passage of time.
THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY’S ART OF AGING
In the world of whisky, we are often led to believe that age is the defining criteria of quality. That the more aged the whisky, the more precious it is. The House of Suntory has consistently challenged this convention because like anything else, the truth is not so simple. Fifth Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo demonstrated this belief with the launch of Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve in 2014 that changed perception of no age statements, highlighting the young bloomers – the fruity and exuberant malt whiskies as “ young talents ”, receiving worldly acclaim.
The House of Suntory has always believed that like people, each malt whisky has its own narrative. Each whisky celebrating its own peak regardless of age.
There are both young and late bloomers.
With the Yamazaki 55, Fukuyo faced an ironic challenge confronting the complexity of working with rare old whiskies. When he acknowledged imperfections in the casks of 1964, the challenge was to enhance the potential of these late bloomers, to unveil a Yamazaki-ness not known before.
Fukuyo worked closely at hand with Shingo Torii, Third Generation Master Blender, to find the right creative alchemy and master the signature art of blending to properly reveal the particular depth, complexity and wisdom that is Yamazaki 55. What Fukuyo respected throughout this process was a combination of the passage of time and what the Japanese refer to as Wabisabi – the imperfections that make up perfection.
‘‘ Very old Scotch Whiskies gave me this impression of them being perfect Greek sculptures with beautiful toned beauty. Instantly impressive as a piece of art. But the Yamazaki 55 is more like an old Buddhist statue. Calm and mysterious. It takes time to take in its inner beauty with the smell of Japanese incense and stripped old wood, like the Toshodaiji Temple in Nara. ’’
Shinji Fukuyo and Shingo Torii
TASTING NOTES
COLOR
Deep amber distinctive of Mizunara casks.
NOSE
A robust aroma redolent of sandal wood. A sweet, mature bouquet like well-ripened fruit.
PALATE
A soft, smooth first sip that blossoms in the mouth with flavor.
A mixture of sweet and slightly bitter, followed by a woody note
from the Mizunara cask.
FINISH
Slightly bitter, a fragrance like scented wood and a hint of smokiness.
A sweet, rich, lingering finish.