The House of Suntory has unveiled the four Japanese single malt expressions in the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series, which aims to showcase its adventurous sense of creativity. The series lets Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo demonstrate how blending can illustrate the intricacy of Japanese whisky making by spanning a variety of elements in barley strains, peating levels, and different cask types.
The Tsukuriwake Series (pronounced soo-koo-ree-wah-keh) debuted two years ago, and the word translates as “artisanship through the diversity of making.” The company marked its 100th anniversary in 2023 with special centenary releases, so there was not a Tsukuriwake Series release last year. The 2024 Tsukuriwake Series is driven by the core values of wa, which takes inspiration through harmony with Japanese nature, monozukuri, which means to be elevated by Japanese craftsmanship, and omotenashi, which is about the enjoyment of an authentic Japanese cultural experience.
Yamazaki Golden Promise (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition)
ABV: 48%
SRP: $465
Golden Promise was a barley variety particularly associated with scotch produced in the second half of the 20th century and has largely been replaced there in favor of higher-yielding strains. But Suntory has been distilling with Golden Promise for the past 15 years, and the variety is known for its rich, malty flavor. Suntory now includes it in their production for Yamazaki 12 year old, and this 2024 Tsukuriwake Series Yamazaki release is made from 100% Golden Promise.
Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition)
ABV: 48%
SRP: $465
With Yamazaki Islay Peated, Fukuyo was looking to bring out a balanced sweetness to complement the Hebridean island’s characteristic peat smoke. Suntory Global Spirits also owns Bowmore and Laphroaig Distilleries, both of which have floor maltings and burn Islay peat to flavor the malt used in a portion of their annual production.
Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition)
ABV: 48%
SRP: $1,500
The series includes a Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara for 2024 following last year’s Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara 100th Anniversary Edition which was rated 95 points by our tasting panel. Each edition of the Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara, from the 96-point 2017 edition to the 2024 Tsukuriwake Edition is fully matured in Japanese mizunara oak.
Hakushu 18 year old Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition)
ABV: 48%
SRP: $1,200
Hakushu 18 year old Peated Malt rounds off the 2024 Tsukuriwake series. Last year’s Hakushu 18 year old Peated Malt 100th anniversary bottling was rated 94 points. The distillery, surrounded by beautiful forests, was opened in 1973 and it is a highly versatile distillery capable of producing many different types of malt whiskies. It has its own cooperage and a grain distillery too. The variety at Haukushu is achieved by changing different variables such as peating levels, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and maturation, enabling Fukuyo to blend together different flavors to create Hakushu single malts of unique character.
Availability: Limited global release in select markets
