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Yamazaki 55 Years Old Heads To Global Travel Retail

The House of Suntory recently announced that a limited quantity of the rare Yamazaki 55 Japanese whisky is headed to global travel retail, with a price tag of $60,000.

Bottled in 2020, Yamazaki 55 is the House of Suntory’s oldest release in its history and is said to pay tribute to the founding family of Japanese whisky, while celebrating the Japanese “Showa” era of the 1960s.

Yamazaki 55 will be available to select global travel retail with bottles found in London, Paris, Hainan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Amsterdam, Seoul, Delhi, Istanbul, Dubai and Singapore.

Yamazaki 55
Yamazaki 55 is now available to Global Travel Retail (image via Beam-Suntory)

Beam Suntory noted they will donate $5,000 for every bottle released in this year’s 100-bottle collection, totalling $500,000, to The White Oak Initiative, a group committed to the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests.

Yamazaki 55 is a blend of rare single malts, featuring components distilled in 1960 under the supervision of Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii and then aged in Mizunara casks; and in 1964 under the direction of Suntory’s Second Master Blender Keizo Saji and then aged in White Oak casks.

Suntory’s Fifth-Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo worked with third-generation Master Blender Shingo Torii in their art of blending to help reveal what’s described as the depth and complexity of the Yamazaki 55.

The distillers note that the resulting liquid features a deep amber color; robust aroma reminiscent of sandal wood and well-ripened fruit; sweet, slightly bitter and woody palate; and slightly bitter, yet sweet and rich finish.

Manuel González, marketing director for Beam Suntory, said in a prepared statement, “This highly limited-edition product will be showcased in some of our best House of Suntory locations, and it will be amplified by an integrated activation campaign. We are committed to growing global travel retail by reinforcing our innovative offering and bringing the best premium shopper experience to life for our customers.”

‘Yamazaki’ is engraved in calligraphy on each crystal bottle, while the age marking is accentuated with gold dust and protected with lacquer. The bottle’s opening is wrapped in handmade Echizen washi paper and bound with a Kyo-kumihimo plaited cord, a traditional craft from Kyoto.

Each bottle is enclosed in a bespoke box made of Japanese Mizunara wood and coated with Suruga lacquer.

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