House of Suntory revisits Tsukuriwake Series

This year’s Tsukuriwake Series explores diversity, innovation and craftsmanship with three Yamazakis and one Hakushu special release.

Tsukuriwake (pronounced ‘soo-koo-ree-wah-keh’), means ‘artisanship through a diversity of making’, and through this limited series, Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo has pushed the boundaries of whisky making. The 2024 releases include Yamazaki Golden Promise, Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt, Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt and Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara. “While past releases from the collection focused mainly on the details of the casks, the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series emphasises the elements of whisky making, such as ingredient selection, peat and cask,” said Fukuyo. “This series is the ultimate showcase of the incredible diversity of choices that goes into the making of Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies.” Yamazaki Golden Promise was made from golden promise barley, distilled in 2009 and aged in American oak casks. It is then blended with Yamazaki 12-Year-Old, offering notes of orange marmalade and custard. Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt is made with peat from Scotland’s famed region and yields a balanced sweetness that complements the smoke. It has notes of brown sugar and bitter orange citrus. Both whiskeys are bottled at 48% ABV and priced at US$465. Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara (Tsukuriwake 2024 Edition) celebrates Suntory’s legacy of mastery with the native, yet difficult oak. The lengthy maturation exclusively in mizunara oak provides a signature spiciness and incense-like sandalwood and aloe wood flavours, alongside hints of clove and dried coconut. It is bottled at 48% ABV and priced at US$1,500. Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt (2024 Tsukuriwake Edition) showcases the distillery’s blending capabilities and ability to produce more than 100 different malt whiskies. A refined and elegant smokiness evokes a serene forest, with notes of herbaceous minerals and ripe apple. It is bottled at 43% ABV and priced at US$1,200.

Both 18-year-old releases were introduced last year as part of House of Suntory’s 100th anniversary celebrations and were extended due to popularity. Previous releases in the series featured Spanish oak and American oak puncheons.