Celebrating 50 years of The Rolling Stones, Suntory decided to pledge their allegiance and give the band a special tribute for their anniversary. The Japanese liquor brand honored the Stones by launching a limited edition blended whiskey, with a production of only 150 bottles, in tandem with the Stones Bar on October 30th, 2012.
Stylishly designed, this bottle is cool, slick, and clearly for the Rolling Stones. Utilizing the iconic Rolling Stones logo of the lips and tongue, the crystal bottle is transformed by a relief cut front emulating the legendary image. Adding to the extravagance, the stopper has been designed in the shape of a diamond, and the holding box is finished in a rich black leather.
Beyond the bottle, the exceptional whiskey is a blend of six different malts that have been carefully distilled and further casked across The Rolling Stones 50 years of performing. One of these malts is the Yamakazi malt, casked in mizunara since the bands formation in 1962. Reveling in complexity and subtlety, the whiskey has a weighty aroma and unique flavor of dried and ripened fruits, cacao and espresso. A soft smokiness of flavor wafts over the woody aftertaste, reminiscent of aloeswood.
The following list illustrates the malts’ ties to the bands trajectory over the last 50 years:
1962: The Rolling Stones formed Yamakazi malt
1971: Lips and tongue logo launched Yamakazi malt
1972: Exile on Main St., the album including “Rocks Off” used in Suntory TV commercials Yamakazi malt
1981: Signature song “Start me Up” released Yamakazi malt
1990: First performance in Japan’s Tokyo Dome Hakushu malt, Chita grain