Hibiki has unveiled its first-ever global marketing campaign, placing actress and Shōgun star Anna Sawai at the centre of a project designed to connect Japanese whisky with broader themes of craftsmanship, heritage and artistry.
Titled The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry, the initiative marks Sawai’s debut as Hibiki’s first global ambassador and reflects a growing focus within premium spirits on cultural identity.
Developed by The House of Suntory, the campaign draws a visual and philosophical link between the precision of Japanese whisky blending and the centuries-old traditions of kimono making.
The campaign marks Sawai’s debut as Hibiki’s first global ambassador…
A celebration of craftsmanship, culture and whisky
Central to this new Hibiki campaign is a collaboration with The House of Chiso, the Kyoto-based kimono house founded in 1555. Widely regarded as one of Japan’s oldest continuously operating craft businesses, Chiso is known for its intricate yuzen dyeing techniques and highly detailed textile artistry. In the campaign’s hero film and imagery, Sawai wears a bespoke kimono created by the house, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary cinematic styling.
The campaign explores parallels between the layered complexity of kimono design and the meticulous blending process behind Hibiki whisky. Both rely on patience, precision and a careful balance of individual elements.
Sawai said the partnership felt like a natural fit because of the shared emphasis on craftsmanship and deliberate artistry. “Hibiki represents a quiet kind of mastery, something refined over time with care and intention,” she said. “As an actor, I’m drawn to that same philosophy of craft, where every choice is deliberate, and every moment matters.”
The messaging aligns closely with Hibiki’s long-standing identity as a whisky built around the Japanese principle of wa, or harmony. The blend itself combines whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki Distillery, Hakushu Distillery and Chita Distillery distilleries, creating a layered profile intended to balance delicacy, depth and complexity. The campaign runs throughout 2026.
Hibiki Japanese Harmony is available from Amazon, priced £75.
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
Hibiki has unveiled its first-ever global marketing campaign, placing actress and Shōgun star Anna Sawai at the centre of a project designed to connect Japanese whisky with broader themes of craftsmanship, heritage and artistry.
Titled The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry, the initiative marks Sawai’s debut as Hibiki’s first global ambassador and reflects a growing focus within premium spirits on cultural identity.
Developed by The House of Suntory, the campaign draws a visual and philosophical link between the precision of Japanese whisky blending and the centuries-old traditions of kimono making.
A celebration of craftsmanship, culture and whisky
Central to this new Hibiki campaign is a collaboration with The House of Chiso, the Kyoto-based kimono house founded in 1555. Widely regarded as one of Japan’s oldest continuously operating craft businesses, Chiso is known for its intricate yuzen dyeing techniques and highly detailed textile artistry. In the campaign’s hero film and imagery, Sawai wears a bespoke kimono created by the house, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary cinematic styling.
The campaign explores parallels between the layered complexity of kimono design and the meticulous blending process behind Hibiki whisky. Both rely on patience, precision and a careful balance of individual elements.
Sawai said the partnership felt like a natural fit because of the shared emphasis on craftsmanship and deliberate artistry. “Hibiki represents a quiet kind of mastery, something refined over time with care and intention,” she said. “As an actor, I’m drawn to that same philosophy of craft, where every choice is deliberate, and every moment matters.”
The messaging aligns closely with Hibiki’s long-standing identity as a whisky built around the Japanese principle of wa, or harmony. The blend itself combines whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki Distillery, Hakushu Distillery and Chita Distillery distilleries, creating a layered profile intended to balance delicacy, depth and complexity. The campaign runs throughout 2026.
Hibiki Japanese Harmony is available from Amazon, priced £75.
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One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Pusser’s Rum revives its original 1979 blend with limited edition Founder’s Reserve
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
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Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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