They say that it’s the liquid inside the bottle that matters most. And while that’s certainly true, a beautiful bottle or label design can and will make or break a given expression’s presence on your bar top. We not only tend to place the best-looking bottles front-and-center but are also more inclined to make the purchase to begin with.
Originally released during its 90th-anniversary year, the House of Suntory’s Hibiki is one of Japan’s finest whiskies. With the 21- and 30-year topping its permanent range, the distillery has now enlisted artist Hiroshi Senju to capture the essence of waterfalls with new label art for these limited-edition bottles.
When Art Meets Whisky
Hiroshi Senju isn’t your typical commercial artist. The Japanese-born, New York-based painter has works displayed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, and LACMA, among others. He even has his own museum in Karuizawa—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. His specialty is large-scale waterfall and cliff paintings that blend traditional nihonga techniques with modern tastes.
For this collaboration, Senju created “Waterfall on Colors ‘Hibiki,'” a piece rendered in ten shades of purple inspired by the Kokimurasaki gradient — a deep purple historically associated with Japanese nobility. His process is fascinating. He fills canvas panels with water and hokaimatsu (finely ground marble powder), then lets the water dictate how the pigments flow across the surface. It’s an organic approach that mirrors the blending process itself, where natural ingredients and time guide the final product.
The 21-Year features Senju’s waterfall imagery on both the label and outer box, while the 30-Year goes all-in as a true collector’s piece. We’re talking a traditional byōbu-style multi-panel display, a reflective black base, an etched emblem, and a waterfall wrap at the bottle’s neck. If you’re going to drop serious money on aged Japanese whisky, the presentation should match the contents.
Inside The Bottle
Hibiki has always been about harmony — it’s literally what the name means. First introduced in 1989, these blends bring together malts from Yamazaki and Hakushu with grain whisky from Chita, all aged for a minimum of their stated periods.
The 21-Year offers honeycomb, sandalwood, dried apricot, and that signature Mizunara oak influence on the palate. The finish unfolds with an incense-like note. Meanwhile, the 30-Year ramps everything up with brown sugar, dried fig, apricot jam, and gingerbread notes, finishing with Mizunara depth and warm cinnamon.
Both expressions sit at 43% ABV, which is approachable enough for contemplative sipping but still complex. Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo continues the legacy started by founder Shinjiro Torii nearly a century ago, and these age-stated releases remain the brand’s crown jewels.
Spec Sheet
Name: Hibiki 21 Years Old Hiroshi Senju Edition & Hibiki 30 Years Old Hiroshi Senju Edition
Type: Blended Japanese Whisky
Age Statement: 21 Years & 30 Years
ABV: 43%
Nose: Cooked fruit, blackberry, ripe banana, caramel (21YO); Leather, raisin, prune, sweet chestnut (30YO)
Palate: Sandalwood, honeycomb, dried apricot, Mizunara oak (21YO); Brown sugar, dried fig, apricot jam, cedar, gingerbread (30YO)
Price: $900 (21YO), $7,500 (30YO)
Limited Edition: Yes, unspecified
Pricing & Availability
Both Hibiki expressions launched worldwide in extremely limited quantities. The 21-Year runs $900 while the 30-Year clocks in at $7,500.
Recap
House of Suntory Hibiki x Hiroshi Senjui Edition Whiskies
Suntory’s Hibiki enlisted renowned Japanese painter Hiroshi Senju to design limited-edition packaging for its 21- and 30-Year expressions, featuring his waterfall artwork rendered in ten shades of purple using traditional techniques.
