House of Suntory introduces 2022 Limited Edition Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection
The Yamazaki® Tsukuriwake Selection is a collection of four Yamazaki single malts that together make the composition of Yamazaki, the pioneer of Japanese Single Malt
Chicago, IL (May 17, 2022) – With the launch of the 2022 Yamazaki® Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection, the House of Suntory unveils a fundamental piece of its unrivaled craftsmanship and introduces the foundational pillars of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky – Puncheon, Peated Malt, Spanish Oak and Mizunara. The collection honors Tsukuriwake, which means “artisanship through a diversity of making” and is embraced by the Founding House of Japanese Whisky.
From its launch in 1984, Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky has always been crafted to be revered for its profound and spiritual nature, its complexity and multi-layered nuance, consistently featuring the foundational pillars – Puncheon, Peated Malt, Spanish Oak and Mizunara. Innovation in Japanese Whisky is known to occur at the back end – in maturation or blending. But few understand the diversity of the whisky components that it takes to achieve this depth and gravitas. The House of Suntory’s Tsukuriwake in Yamazaki uniquely prides itself in multiple strengths of non-peated and peated grain varieties, two types of wash backs, eight pairs with various shapes of pot stills and maturation in four different oak casks (French, Spanish, Japanese and American) with three cask size differences in American Oak. This makes Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky, a Single Malt quite like no other.
“What excited me most about this launch is that just one year before the 100th anniversary of Suntory Whisky, we can finally share the full story behind our Tsukuriwake way of whisky making, which was born from the Founding House of Japanese Whisky,” says Suntory’s Fifth-Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. “The 2022 Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection honors the fact that greatness comes from diversity. And in doing so, we unveil what truly makes Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky the authority of Japanese Whisky.”
The story of Yamazaki is the story of Japanese Whisky. In 1923, when Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt distillery in Yamazaki, he had no one with whom to exchange and broaden his malt repertoire. Being the Founding House of Japanese Whisky meant that the House of Suntory had no choice but to build its own approach to crafting whisky. Experimenting with a variety of grain types, wash backs, distillation methods, casks and blending techniques resulting in the House of Suntory’s globally acclaimed Tsukuriwake style – artisanship through a diversity of making. Through years of experimentation, repeated trial and error, perseverance and persistence, it took three generations, three Master Blenders and five Chief Blenders to transform what happened out of necessity into one of the key signatures of the House of Suntory.Suntory continues to produce a depth and breadth of malt whisky components that keep pushing the boundaries of what Suntory Whisky can be.
The 2022 Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection, initially released in Japan in 2020, will be available in the next month in select global markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Australia. Each expression is bottled at 48% ABV and has a suggested retail price of $450 USD with the exception of the Mizunara bottling, which has a suggested retail price of $620 USD.
YAMAZAKI PUNCHEON
The Puncheon is considered as the “heart” of what makes Yamazaki Single Malt, Yamazaki.
The Yamazaki Puncheon Single Malt Whisky is comprised of meticulously selected malts aged exclusively in puncheons crafted by Suntory artisans from hand selected American oak. With a capacity of approximately 480 liters, these large casks allow malt whiskies to mature slowly, imbuing them with a complexity and vibrance. The Puncheon cask malt whiskies impart their subtle notes essential to the delicate base of the Yamazaki Single Malt.
Tasting Notes
Color: Pale gold
Nose: Green apple, mature pear, acacia honey with hint of vanilla
Palate: Clean, velvety and mild, with delicate butterscotch notes
Finish: Oaky woodiness with subtle sweetness
YAMAZAKI PEATED MALT
The Peated Malt is considered the “hidden accent” giving Yamazaki its complexity and lingering finish.
The Yamazaki Peated Malt is comprised of meticulously selected heavily peated malted barley that is masterfully blended to create the quintessential Yamazaki Peated Malt that is gentle and refined. The Peated malt whiskies impart their subtly smoky, earthy notes essential to the complexity of the Yamazaki Single Malt.
Tasting Notes
Color: Bright gold
Nose: Subtly smoky with green herbal notes
Palate: Gently peated with hints of earthiness, pineapple and citrus notes
Finish: Complex with lingering peatiness
YAMAZAKI SPANISH OAK
The Spanish Oak is considered as the depth-enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential multi-layered full flavor with mature fruity notes. The Yamazaki Spanish Oak is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies matured in the highest quality oak casks originating from Northern Spain. The Spanish oak cask malt whiskies impart a delicately rich and decadent palate with subtle acidity and fruity aromas, essential to the multi-layered flavor profile of the Yamazaki Single Malt.
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich reddish amber
Nose: Dried raisins and prunes, with hints of sundried tomatoes
Palate: Delicately rich and decadent with subtle acidity
Finish: Buttery with lingering acidity and hint of bitterness
YAMAZAKI MIZUNARA
Mizunara is a species of oak native to Japan and is considered the signature enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential Japanese character and elegance. Whiskies which undergo a long maturation in Mizunara casks take on a distinctive Japanese spiciness and incense-like flavor of sandalwood and agarwood. The Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt Whisky is comprised of meticulously selected long-matured malt whiskies showcasing the rare, distinctive beauty of the hand crafted Mizunara casks. The Mizunara cask malt whiskies impart their enigmatic spicy notes essential to the signature taste of the Yamazaki Single Malt.
Tasting Notes
Color: Amber
Nose: Rich and elegant top note, custard cream, cinnamon
Palate: Gentle on the tongue, aromatic and round with spiced sweet notes
Finish: Distinctive deep woody notes reminiscent of Japanese incense
ABOUT HOUSE OF SUNTORY
Since 1923, Suntory has been renowned as the pioneer of Japanese whisky for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, and the Suntory legacy continued with Torii’s son and Suntory’s second Master Blender, Keizo Saji, who continued to establish distilleries including the Hakushu distillery. As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation. The House of Suntory has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).
Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies: Yamazaki—Japan’s N°1 Single Malt, multi-layered and profound, and Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki—Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky and Suntory Whisky Toki.
Greg
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