Hibiki is not just a simple blended whiskey. It is a work of art that embodies the harmony of time, memory, and sensation. Various malt and grain whiskeys are born into a single resonance through the master blender’s sensibility, much like a multitude of instruments harmoniously coming together to create a single emotion in an orchestra.

Recently, while performing Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 after a long time, I spread out the sheet music alongside a glass of well-aged whiskey. On it were notes that layered my experiences from my teens to my forties, and the fragrance and memories remain strong to this day.

Blending and Composing: The Depth of Time

It took Brahms 21 years to complete Symphony No. 1. The emotions and thoughts accumulated during that time leave a profound resonance in the piece. The panorama of emotions—passion, anguish, hope, and love—are completed through the artistic processes of aging and blending, much like Hibiki whiskey.

The depth and aftertaste felt when savoring Hibiki 21 years are connected to the emotions experienced while listening to Brahms’ symphony. Both works are the crystallization of art completed through long anticipation.

Memorable Fragrances and Moments

In my early twenties, the performance of Brahms at Suntory Hall and my meeting with Maestro Yuzō Toyama was a precious moment that guided my direction as an artist. The fragrance of the first Hibiki whiskey I drank that day is still unforgettable.

The Maestro’s words that day, “The resonant fragrance, Hibiki (響),” were not just a simple description but a deep insight at the intersection of art and life. The blender blends whiskey, the conductor blends music, and we blend moments.

Art, Memory, and Resonance

Suntory’s philosophy stems from a deep understanding of art that goes beyond mere corporate activity. Hibiki whiskey is not just a drink; it resonates deep within the heart, much like Brahms’ music.

In a moment of sipping Hibiki, we feel Brahms’ symphony, the emotions of the past, and the hopes of the future all at once. That resonance is the true power of art.