Blended The Whisky Extra Special (Arita Ceramic Bottle)
⏳ Drinking Window
As a highly stable distilled spirit, this premium blend is bottled at its peak maturity and will not evolve further in the bottle. It can be enjoyed immediately upon opening or preserved indefinitely under proper storage conditions.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
dark chocolate, smoked duck breast, aged blue cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Suntory's 'The Whisky' Extra Special represents the absolute pinnacle of Japanese blending, originally launched in 1989 to commemorate the company's 90th anniversary. This ultra-premium expression is composed of exceptionally rare, long-aged malt and grain whiskies sourced from Suntory's legendary Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, including spirits aged in prized Japanese Mizunara oak casks. Beyond the liquid itself, this release is celebrated for its presentation in a hand-crafted Arita ceramic bottle. Arita-yaki is a historic Japanese porcelain style dating back to the early 17th century in Saga Prefecture, renowned for its exquisite hand-painted designs and brilliant white clay. This marriage of traditional Japanese ceramic artistry and master whisky blending makes it a legendary collector's piece that tells a story of heritage, patience, and meticulous craftsmanship.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii as Torii Shoten in Osaka, Suntory is the pioneer of Japanese whisky and one of the world’s preeminent drinks conglomerates. Guided by Torii's defining philosophy of 'Yatte Minahare' (go for it), the house constructed Japan’s first malt whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923, chosen for the pure soft water where three rivers converge at the base of Mount Tennozan, followed by the alpine, heavily forested Hakushu distillery in 1973. While globally renowned for spirits, Suntory also champions domestic Japanese viticulture, notably cultivating native Koshu and Muscat Bailey A under sustainable viticultural regimes in Yamanashi and Nagano. Distillation and maturation reflect consummate technical precision, utilizing diverse copper pot still profiles and wood regimes spanning ex-bourbon, Spanish sherry butts, and indigenous Mizunara oak. Benchmark expressions include Yamazaki Single Malt, Hakushu, Hibiki, Kakubin, and Japan Premium Koshu, epitomizing Suntory’s dedication to balance, subtle complexity, and ethereal harmony.