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.
Bowmore has joined forces with design studio Snarkitecture for a pair of 20 Year Old single malts. This is Snarkitecture’s first venture into whisky; the design studio is better known for its experimental, arty approach to architecture. Co-founder Alex Mustonen travelled from New York to Islay, drawing inspiration from the island’s landscape and Bowmore’s historic…
After an 11-year absence, Hibiki 12 Years Old is returning to airport shelves as a new Global Travel Retail whisky exclusive. Duty-free is increasingly becoming a happy hunting ground for limited editions and hard-to-find whisky releases. A new entry on our wants-list is this Hibiki 12 Years Old, particularly notable as the expression has been…
The Dalmore has returned to its dunnage warehouses for a limited 14 Year Old single malt whisky finished in Semisecco Marsala casks. It’s the latest expression in the Distillery Select Series, a collection of limited-edition whiskies drawn from small parcels of stock at the distillery. First launched in 2024, each release in the Series is…
The Luxe Review 
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.
Bowmore takes whisky lovers on sherry and oak journey with 20 Year Old Captivo Collection
Bowmore has joined forces with design studio Snarkitecture for a pair of 20 Year Old single malts. This is Snarkitecture’s first venture into whisky; the design studio is better known for its experimental, arty approach to architecture. Co-founder Alex Mustonen travelled from New York to Islay, drawing inspiration from the island’s landscape and Bowmore’s historic…
Hibiki 12 Year Old Japanese whisky returns after an 11 year absence but you’ll have to fly to get one
After an 11-year absence, Hibiki 12 Years Old is returning to airport shelves as a new Global Travel Retail whisky exclusive. Duty-free is increasingly becoming a happy hunting ground for limited editions and hard-to-find whisky releases. A new entry on our wants-list is this Hibiki 12 Years Old, particularly notable as the expression has been…
The Dalmore Distillery Select series returns with a 14 Year Old Marsala-finished single malt whisky
The Dalmore has returned to its dunnage warehouses for a limited 14 Year Old single malt whisky finished in Semisecco Marsala casks. It’s the latest expression in the Distillery Select Series, a collection of limited-edition whiskies drawn from small parcels of stock at the distillery. First launched in 2024, each release in the Series is…
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