Current Availability
Suntory’s whiskies, especially Yamazaki, has been in shortage in the past few years; the prices have been increasing constantly.
This week, Suntory unveiled a limited edition 55-year-old Yamazaki single malt whisky, which it will sell for 3 million yen ($27,347.31) a bottle. Only 100 bottles will be sold from June 30, and buyers will be chosen by lottery. Blended from whisky matured in mizunara and white oak casks, the edition will be the oldest version of Yamazaki.
The company in 2005 sold a limited edition of a 50-year-old Yamazaki for 1 million yen. One of them auctioned by Bonhams in Hong Kong in 2018 fetched HK$2.695 million.
In May 2018, it was reported that sales of Hakushu 12 Year and Hibiki 17 Year to be suspended in Jun 2018. Suntory said the demand was far outstripping supply and distillers were not being able to produce enough of it.
Before that, the demand for the Hibiki 12 year has become unsustainable and in 2015 Suntory announced it would be discontinuing the expression.
Currently the most commonly seen versions for Yamazaki are 12yr, 18yr, 30yr and Distiller’s Reserve (no age).
The Distiller’s Reserve version was launched in 2014, containing a range of liquid aged from around eight to 20 years. Blended by Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo, the Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve is a vatting of whisky matured in French oak Bordeaux wine casks, Sherry casks, mizunara casks (Japanese oak) and American oak casks, with some peated malt added. [thespiritsbusiness]
Awards (Whisky Bible: WORLD WHISKIES OF THE YEAR)
- 2016: Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara (Bot.2014) (ranked 5th our of 5 picks)
- 2015: The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry 2013 (ranked 1st out of 3 picks)
Awards (World Whiskies Awards)
- 2019 WORLD’S BEST BLENDED WHISKY – Hibiki 21 Years Old
- 2018 WORLD’S BEST SINGLE MALT – Hakushu 25 Years Old
- 2017 WORLD’S BEST BLENDED – Hibiki 21 Years Old
- 2016 WORLD’S BEST BLENDED – Hibiki 21 Years Old
Awards (International Spirits Challenge, Gold)
Yamazaki
- 2007 – The YAMAZAKI Single Malt Whisky 18 years old
- 2009 – Yamazaki 1984
- 2010 – The YAMAZAKI single malt whisky 12YO
- 2010 – The YAMAZAKI single malt whisky 18YO
- 2011 – The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 1984
- 2012 – The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Aged 18 Years
- 2013 – The Yamazaki single malt whisky Puncheon 2012
- 2013 – The Yamazaki single malt whisky Mizunara 2012
- 2013 – The Yamazaki single malt whisky 18 Years Old
- 2014 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY MIZUNARA 2013
- 2014 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY BOURBON BARREL 2013
- 2014 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY 18 YEARS OLD
- 2015 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY MIZUNARA 2014
- 2017 – The Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Limited Edition 2016
- 2018 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY 12 YEARS OLD
- 2018 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY 18 YEARS OLD
- 2019 – THE YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY MIZUNARA 2017 EDITION
Hakushu
- 2008 – Single Malt Whisky “Hakushu” aged 25 years
- 2009 – Hakushu 18 y.o.
- 2010 – The HAKUSHU single malt whisky 25YO
- 2010 -The HAKUSHU single malt whisky HEAVILY PEATED
- 2011 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Bourbon Barrel
- 2012 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Aged 25 Years
- 2012 -The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Aged 12 Years
- 2012 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask (12 years old and under)
- 2013 – The Hakushu single malt whisky Heavily Peated 2012
- 2013 – The Hakushu single malt whisky 25 Years Old
- 2013 – The Hakushu single malt whisky 18 Years Old
- 2014 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY SHERRY CASK 2014
- 2014 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY 25 YEARS OLD
- 2014 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY 18 YEARS OLD
- 2015 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY 25 YEARS OLD
- 2016 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old
- 2016 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 18 Years Old
- 2017 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old
- 2017 – The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 18 Years Old
- 2019 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY 25 YEARS OLD
- 2019 – THE HAKUSHU SINGLE MALT WHISKY 18 YEARS OLD
Hibiki
- 2009 – Hibiki 17 y.o.
- 2010 – SUNTORY Whisky HIBIKI 12YO
- 2010 – SUNTORY Whisky HIBIKI 21YO
- 2012 – Hibiki Japanese Blended Whisky Aged 21 Years
- 2012 – Hibiki Japanese Blended Whisky Aged 17 Years
- 2013 – Hibiki Japanese Blended Whisky aged 17 years
- 2013 – Hibiki Japanese Blended Whisky aged 12 years
- 2014 – HIBIKI JAPANESE BLENDED WHISKY DEEP HARMONY
- 2014 – HIBIKI JAPANESE BLENDED MELLOW HARMONY
- 2015 – HIBIKI JAPANESE BLENDED WHISKY AGED 12 YEARS
- 2016 – Suntory Whisky Hibiki 17 Years Old
- 2016 – Suntory Whisky Hibiki Mellow Harmony
- 2017 – Suntory Whisky Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select
- 2019 – SUNTORY WHISKY HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY Master’s Select
Chita
- 2017 – Suntory Single Grain Whisky Chita Distillery