How Suntory World Whisky Ao Combines 5 Whisky-Making Traditions Into One Beautiful Expression

Suntory’s blended whisky is an assembly of expressions from its distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, US and Japan

Hybrid whiskies—a blend of two or more distinct whiskies—aren’t new in the market. In fact, they first gained popularity several years ago with prominent releases like Bruichladdich’s limited-edition Celtic Nations, a fusion of Irish and Scotch whiskies launched in 2012, and The Glover, the world’s first Scotch-Japanese crossbreed released in 2015 by independent bottler Adelphi.

Creating hybrids allows the master blenders to showcase the whisky-making traditions and unique flavours of different regions, thus creating exciting expressions that truly break ground.

That can be said of Suntory’s innovative and world-first Suntory World Whisky Ao, crafted by fifth-generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo using seven whiskies produced in its distilleries in Scotland (Ardmore and Glen Garioch), Ireland (Cooley), Canada (Alberta), US (Jim Beam) and Japan (Hakushu and Yamazaki).

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Above Suntory's fifth generation chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo

Fukuyo believes that these places are connected by the oceans—hence the name Ao, which is the Japanese word for blue (the colour of the ocean). Similar to how the waters link all the five regions together, he assembled the distilleries’ precious liquids into one beautiful expression that retains each region’s distinct characteristics. These regions have varying climates, as well as fermentation and distillation processes that give their whiskies their unique taste.

Above Suntory has launched the world's first hybrid whisky that blends five major whiskies from different regions

Above The blend retains the different distilleries' characteristics in one beautiful expression

The Suntory World Whisky Ao first draws you in with its bright and robust vanilla and pineapple-like aromas. Once you take a sip, you will appreciate its heathery notes from Ardmore and Glen Garioch, weaved in with the layered complexity of Cooley, smoothness of Alberta, and vibrancy of Jim Beam. Yamazaki and Hakushu’s subtle qualities are also noticeable in the blend; these ensure that the whisky has the perfect balance of sweet and smoky characters, layered with vanilla, cinnamon and tropical fruits, and finished with spicy and woody notes.

Just like the exquisite spirits that have placed Suntory on the whisky map since its founding in 1929, the Suntory World Whisky Ao was made according to the spirits producer’s globally recognised Monozukuri craftsmanship. This essentially means the makers continue their quest for perfection, attention to detail and quality to create quality expressions that are coveted by whisky lovers across the globe.

Suntory World Whisky Ao is available at 1855 The Bottleshop.

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How Suntory World Whisky Ao Combines 5 Whisky-Making Traditions Into One Beautiful Expression