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Time is a key ingredient in any whisky, not only in a liquid’s maturation, but also in everything from the trees that provide wood for casks, to a whiskymaker’s story, to its homeland’s history. This idea is the nucleus of Suntory Whisky Toki, a relatively young brand under the storied House of Suntory umbrella, whose name means “time” in Japanese.
Today, Toki unveiled its first limited-edition release, and first new release in a decade, Toki Black. The new bottle “embodies the spirit of reinvention, blending tradition and innovation, capturing the essence of old-meets-new Japan,” per the brand. Made using Hakushu Peated malt and Hakushu Grain, the liquid boasts a subtly smoky profile while retaining the lightness and approachability that made it a hit after launching in 2016.
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Toki Black
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“As our first release in a decade, Toki Black marks a significant milestone for both Toki and The House of Suntory,” said Masaki Morimoto, president of The House of Suntory. “The name ‘Toki,’ meaning ‘time,’ represents a deep part of Japanese culture — where reverence for tradition meets bold innovation. This limited-edition launch reflects that philosophy, offering a contemporary expression that honors our heritage while engaging a new generation of whisky enthusiasts.”
Equally as exciting as the liquid itself is the Toki Black campaign, which sees Suntory teaming up with Grammy-nominated American producer Terrace Martin and Japanese jazz artist Ryota Nozaki (known as Jazztronik) for a film and a bespoke vinyl release. The record features an improvisational track on one side and Martin’s modern reinterpretation of that same track on the other side, while the film captures the record’s creation. Watch the film and listen to the record below.
A veteran producer with more than 20 years under his belt, Martin embodies Toki’s “old meets new” ethos. The Los Angeles native has collaborated with Jazz greats like Billy Higgins, as well as hip-hop legends like Snoop Dogg, Pete Rock, and Kendrick Lamar. Martin’s sound is perhaps best exemplified on Lamar’s acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, which Martin helped produce.
The Toki Black campaign is the first brand partnership that Martin has accepted. “This is the first time I’ve been offered something that I understood, loved the people involved with it, and loved the teams involved with it,” he tells Rolling Stone. “And I actually liked the whisky. I like it. So I wanted to be involved, because it stood next to my brand.”
Martin says he first developed a love for Japanese whisky after his cousin, Stephen Bruner — better known as Thundercat — introduced him to the stuff. “Since we were in high school, when we didn’t even know how far Japan was, we was trying to get to Japan,” says Martin. “We used to be so involved with anime and Thundercats and all that. We was just a fan of Japan. [Japanese people] was just so futuristic that by the time I was able to get here, and start playing here, it was a dream come true to really be with the people.”
Today, Martin’s appreciation for whisky has a foothold in his first love, music. He talks about whisky as something of a primer for listening to music, and kept that in mind while making the Toki Black record. “The whisky is like a natural, loving muscle relaxer, you know what I mean? So with the [Toki Black record], what I didn’t want to do is create frequencies that bounce all high in your ear,” he says. “I wanted to create something where you can’t just sit back and close your eyes and just think about the day you’ve had, or think about the evening you’re about to have, or just not think about shit and shut the fuck up.”
Our suggestion? Grab a bottle of Toki Black here, turn on the Martin x Jazztronik film here, sit back, and shut the fuck up.
