News
No.11026 March 4, 2011
London, March 4, 2011 -Suntory Whisky received a pair of top honors from Whisky Magazine at an awards ceremony in London.
Suntory Liquors Limited’s Hibiki 21 Years Old won the "World’s Best Blended Whisky" award at the "World Whiskies Awards 2011," hosted by specialist Whisky Magazine. Simultaneously, Yamazaki 1984 took the "World’s Best Single Malt Whisky" prize. Furthermore, Hibiki 21 Years Old marks a second consecutive year in winning its respective award.
The award ceremony was held on Thursday, March 3 in London.
This year marks the fifth World Whiskies Awards, a global whisky contest hosted by Whisky Magazine. Representative whiskies are selected from each of the countries submitting entries, including the UK, Japan, and the USA. Final judging takes place in six categories, including Blended Whisky and Single Malt Whisky. Winners in each category are selected based on rigorous blind tasting.
This year, Hibiki 21 Years Old was selected as "World’s Best Blended Whisky" for the second consecutive year, with judges noting "this is a whisky with a richness of taste and flavor, with the perfect balance between strength and smoothness." At the same time, Yamazaki 1984 was named "World’s Best Single Malt Whisky," with judges noting "this is a unique whisky whose flavor is imbued with a Japanese touch. It is a fine example of the high quality of Japanese whisky."
This blended whisky uses rare, scrupulously selected malt whiskies at least 21 years old. The key malt is from Yamazaki sherry casks, blended with mellow grain malts. The result is stunning, with a sweet fragrance of dry fruit, a spicy aroma and taste, smooth and creamy on the palate, with a rich, refined bouquet and a long finish dappled with deep flavor notes.
Yamazaki 1984 is made only with rigorously-selected, single-malt whiskies distilled and casked in 1984, the year the brand was first introduced. It is a vatted whisky principally comprised of malt whiskies aged in casks made from Japanese oak (mizunara), which are essential to the unique Yamazaki flavor, and exemplifies the distinctive Oriental aroma and depth of flavor that has earned Japanese Whisky high praise from around the world.
| Competition | World Whiskies Awards 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor | Whisky Magazine (Paragraph Publishing Limited) | |
| Prize | World’s Best Blended Whisky | World’s Best Single Malt Whisky |
| Winners | Hibiki 21 Years Old | Yamazaki 1984 |
| Awards Ceremony |
Thursday, March 3, 2011, London, England | |
