If you tried to pinpoint the moment Japanese whisky really lodged itself in the global imagination as a luxury product, you would end up somewhere around the debut of Hibiki. I would argue, Hibiki even ushered in an era where a new kind of whisky collector emerged, one who cared as much about the artwork on a special edition Hibiki as the well-made blend inside.

It all began with an iconic scene in Lost in Translation where Bill Murray’s jaded actor is coaxed into murmuring “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time” in a Tokyo hotel bar. The exact expression isn’t identified, but the brand is clearly Suntory’s Hibiki, with its instantly recognisable faceted bottle glinting in the background.

Hibiki was conceived as Suntory’s anniversary statement piece just 4 years before it became a pop-culture reference. In 1989, Suntory was celebrating its 90th anniversary, and Keizo Saji – then both master blender and company president – wanted a premium blend that would show off the sophistication of the house’s techniques. His team worked with around 30 malt and grain components drawn from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita to build a whisky that felt orchestral. The name “Hibiki” – “resonance” – was chosen to suggest exactly that: flavours and aromas that echo and harmonise long after you set the glass down.

From day one, Hibiki wasn’t just presented as a well-made blended whisky– there was the iconic 24-faceted decanter in crystal that represented the 24 seasons of the Japanese calendar, the elegant frosted crystal stopper, the Kanji name translated as “resonance”.

As global interest in Japanese whisky exploded, partly fuelled by scarcity and by accolades such as Hibiki 21 winning “World’s Best Blended Whisky”, the design got dialled up further for limited editions: hand-painted Mount Fuji scenes, Kachō-Fūgetsu (flowers–birds–wind–moon) motifs, bottles with maki-e decoration, mother-of-pearl inlay and even gold lacquer.

Once Japanese whisky prices started climbing in the 2010s and age-stated stocks began to vanish, that elegant Hibiki decanter took on a second life. Age-stated 17-, 21- and 30-year-old expressions moved from bar shelves to auction sites and display cabinets, while the non-age-stated Harmony retained the role of the “fancy Japanese whisky” people actually felt comfortable uncorking rather than keeping under display.

Meanwhile, for Hibiki’s 21- and 30-year-old expressions, increasingly elaborate presentations seriously amplify the sense that you’re dealing with something that straddles the line between consumable and keepsake. A 21-year-old Hibiki with a commemorative design no longer felt like something you could casually pour– its packaging pushed it into the realm of objets d’art, and with that came the collector’s dilemma: Should I drink, or should I display this?

The latest example of this “drink-or-display” tightrope is Hibiki’s elegantly crafted collaboration set with acclaimed painter Hiroshi Senju. I had the privilege to attend the Singapore launch of Hibiki’s “Waterfall on Colours” collaboration, hosted by Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory’s current Chief Blender.

For this project, Suntory’s Hibiki 21 and 30 were given a new visual treatment based on a bespoke piece from Senju.

Hiroshi Senju (Right).

Senju is best known for his large-scale waterfall paintings executed in the nihonga tradition, using natural mineral pigments on paper or silk; his work has appeared everywhere from the Venice Biennale to hotel lobbies and airport terminals. In “Waterfall on Colors”, Senju applies his trademark cascades to a palette of purples, riffing on Kokimurasaki, a deep shade historically associated with courtly dress and aristocratic status in Japan.

On the bottle and outer packaging, this translates into Hibiki’s already recognisable form being wrapped in a gradient of purple falls, giving you the sense of looking through mist or spray at the vessel.

The Hibiki 21 “Waterfall on Colors” edition sees the familiar decanter waterfall imagery gracing both the label and the presentation box. The Hibiki 30 takes it a step further, housed in a byōbu-style folding screen display that opens out like a miniature Japanese room divider, the bottle set in painted panels and with a waterfall wrap at the neck of the crystal bottle. Both whiskies are bottled at 43% ABV.

All of this could easily remain a purely visual exercise if you only ever encountered the bottles behind glass (or collected them, then kept them behind glass). We had the chance to get a bit closer to taste both the 21 and 30 side by side. Here are my notes.

Whisky Review: Hibiki 21 Years Old Artist Collaboration with Hiroshi Senju, 43% ABV

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Gold.

Nose: Honeyed warmth with a mellow glow of maltose and sweet malt. Opens with the familiar orchard fruit profile I associate with Yamazaki, the fruits feel rounded and fleshy, with apricots and apples weight. A lifted, almost airy freshness follows from light tangerine peel and orange blossom. As it evolves, a clean mineral edge appears from a faint wet stone note that hints at Hakushu’s style. There is also a light herbal candy sweetness, a small curl of caramel, a brush of red fruits and a mild gristiness that anchors everything back to the grain.

Palate: Opens with a firm malt core that carries a steady sweetness from honey and brown sugar, confectionary richness supporting the orchard fruit character which feels much fuller and more concentrated here, with juicy apricots and apples. A cooler, aromatic lift of mint and fresh herbs, while a subtle brininess bringing some contrast and keeps the sweetness in check. Through all of this, a deeper woodiness builds from agarwood and the cedary fragrance of Mizunara. It’s got a more prominent incense-like intensity as hinted on the nose.

Finish: Long, flavourful and aromatic. It’s warm and spiced, like a chai latte in gentle persistence. It carries forward the fruit but deepening into warmer territory. A slow radiating heat comes from baking spices, cocoa and espresso, giving the end a dark, slightly roasted edge. The wood tones linger with clear sandalwood and a return of agarwood, while traces of stone fruits keep a bit of brightness in the tail.

Thoughts

The whisky carries a richer aromatic spice than I expected, especially toward the end where the Mizunara and European oak seem to converge. What stands out most is how those orchard fruits remain consistent from nose to finish, with a faint minerality appearing in between that prevents the profile from feeling overly plush. The texture is smooth and honeyed in a way that never dips at any point, and the various aromas continue at the same intensity as the whisky moves across the palate.

It seamlessly shifts from fresh fruit to incense-like wood to warm spice, and the continued persistence of each layer is what makes the profile feel so resonant.

Whisky Review: Hibiki 30 Years Old Artist Collaboration with Hiroshi Senju, 43% ABV

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Gold.

Nose: A dense, almost sticky sweetness that settles, heavily shaped by maltose candy and thick brown sugar and with both fruitiness and depth. Quickly broadens into a more confectionary characters, with caramel covered apples, apple juice, a soft plume of plum. A warm creamy richness of caramelised creme brûlée, with a deeper dryness developing from a mix of walnuts and other dried nuts. Some an older structural notes emerge from a faint antique oak varnish that gives the sweetness a slightly aged edge, with a mild mustiness that feels more pronounced than in the 21, and a small lift comes of soft spring water.

Palate: A thick, oily and slightly waxy texture that allows the flavours to unfold slowly. Steady warmth builds from growing spices, which wrap around red fruits, red apples and dried apricots. Fruitiness deepens into a darker thread of liquorice, while honey provides a consistent sweetness underneath. As the whisky moves across the palate, a nuttier tone builds from walnuts

Finish: Lengthens into a warm, honeyed glow that spreads gradually. Sustained spice presence coming from cinnamon and from the aromatic influence of Mizunara, pushing towards a more incense-like character. Then it all tapers into light dried florals, touches of smoked heather and a very long trail of incense that lingers far past the final sip.

Thoughts

This is really persistent and layered, with a firmer oak structure to Hibiki’s otherwise soft and sweet profile and with sweetness, spice and wood continuing to unfold long after swallowing.

This feels more evocative on both the nose and the finish, with the dried florals and incense notes giving the whisky an atmosphere that immediately stands apart from the 21. Much like the younger expression, the different dimensions continue for a long time, but here they settle into a deeper, more aged register where dried fruit, old wood, florals and spice overlap in a steady rhythm. It’s certainly more evocative of that feeling of walking into a quiet temple after rain (as described by the Chief Blender), the mix of dried fruit sweetness, aged wood and lingering incense creating a very distinct impression. It is complex, slow moving and built on layers that hold their intensity as they transition from nose to palate to finish.

Both the 21 and 30 Year Old editions from the “Waterfall on Colours” collaboration are now being made available in limited quantities across the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Northern Europe, China, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, as well as in select global travel-retail stores, priced at $899.99 USD and $7,500.00 USD respectively.

The presentation boxes for the Hibiki 21 Years Old and Hibiki Japanese Harmony releases also come with a Furoshiki scarf printed with Senju’s waterfall artwork.

@CharsiuCharlie