The House of Suntory has announced the launch of the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series – showcasing the “exceptional blending and diversity” of Japanese whisky.
The series is comprised of Yamazaki Golden Promise, Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt, Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt, and Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara.
Tsukuriwake (pronounced soo-koo-ree-wah-keh) means ‘artisanship through a diversity of making,’ and the limited-edition 2024 Tsukuriwake Series is a true reflection of this. Suntory’s 5th Generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo has pushed the boundaries of whisky making with this series by using ingredients like wood, and processes that expand the previous Tsukuriwake range to showcase the diversity of whisky making.
Following last year’s milestone 100th Anniversary of pioneering Japanese whisky, The House of Suntory continues to innovate the category with the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series. The previous selection was released in 2022.
“Tsukuriwake translates to ‘artisanship through a diversity of making’, which is truly what the 2024 Series represents with each of the four liquids included,” said chief blender of Suntory Shinji Fukuyo.
“While past releases from the collection focused mainly on the details of the casks, The 2024 Tsukuriwake Series emphasizes the elements of whisky making, such as ingredient selection, peat, and cask. This series is the ultimate showcase of the incredible diversity of choices that goes into the making of Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies.”
In previous years, the Tsukuriwake Series has mainly focused on the casks matured in the lands of Yamazaki. The 2024 Series reveals that the Tsukuriwake approach goes beyond diversifying the whiskies in multiple casks to incorporate elements of whisky-making, such as ingredient selection, peat and cask.
Yamazaki Golden Promise
Yamazaki Golden Promise is made from golden promise barley, a standout grain cultivated in Scotland in the 1960s. Distilled in Japan since 2009 and aged in American Oak casks, it delivers a maltier, richer Yamazaki profile. It is perfect for more mature whiskies and has been added to Yamazaki 12 Year Old, imparting its deep and rounded flavour. Yamazaki Golden Promise offers a rich and full palate featuring notes of orange marmalade, custard and a sweet, lasting finish.
Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt
Islay Peat is often recognized as a distinctive character amongst scotch, with a softer and sweeter mouthfeel than Scotland’s mainland peat. The water and maturation process used to create Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt yields a balanced sweetness that complements the smoke, that adds complexity to the long enduring finish of Yamazaki. On the palate, it has a smooth sweetness of brown sugar with hints of bitter orange citrus and a warm, smoky finish.
Both Yamazaki Golden Promise and Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt, enhance the intricate, multi-layered flavour profile of the Yamazaki core brand.
Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara (Tsukuriwake 2024 Edition)
Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition) introduces a limited-edition label for Suntory’s flagship Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara, celebrating The House of Suntory’s legacy of mastering Mizunara oak: a Japanese oak notoriously difficult to work with, but now known as a signature enhancer of Suntory whiskies.
The complex, deep flavor of Mizunara gives depth to the multi-layered profile of Yamazaki.A long maturation period reveals its signature spiciness and incense-like sandalwood and aloe wood flavours that comprise this 100% Mizunara whisky. It offers subtly spiced orange notes and a long, lingering finish with hints of clove and dried coconut.
Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition)
Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition) introduces a limited-edition label for Suntory’s celebrated Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt. To honour the art of diverse blending at the Hakushu distillery, it enables The House of Suntory to produce more than 100 different malt whiskies and constant refinement of the Japanese peated malt whisky.
The refined and elegant smokiness of Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt lends a refreshing quality to the liquid, evoking the essence of a serene forest. A lengthy maturation process in Hakushu’s pristine and pure water reveals a distinct smokiness with spicy, peppery notes, deepening to unveil herbaceous minerals and ripe apple undertones.
The Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt launched last year for the House of Suntory’s 100th anniversary. These flagship whiskies have been re-released under limited-edition labels within the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series following popularity among consumers, and to honour the key ingredients in Suntory flagship single malt whiskies.
Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara celebrates The House of Suntory’s legacy of mastering the notoriously difficult Mizunara oak, Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt honours the art of diverse blending, which enables The House of Suntory to produce more than 100 different malt whiskies at the Hakushu Distillery and constantly evolve and refine Japanese peated malt whisky.
