Stepping up the fill the gap left by Hibiki 17’s absence is the newly unveiled “Hibiki Blender’s Choice” release. The blend includes carefully selected vintages, married together by Suntory’s team of expert blenders.
Stepping up the fill the gap left by Hibiki 17’s absence is the newly unveiled “Hibiki Blender’s Choice” release. The blend includes carefully selected vintages, married together by Suntory’s team of expert blenders. The addition of a few wine cask-aged whiskies in the blend delivers a round, well-balanced profile and immense depth.
Hibiki was launched in 1989 to commemorate Suntory’s 90th anniversary, and has ever since been embraced as the paragon of The Art of Japanese Whisky, the very product of Japanese nature and her people. Hibiki Whisky is not only Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, but among the most prestigious and honoured whiskies in the world.
Suntory is the oldest whisky making company in Japan. Its origins stretch back to a small shop, started in 1899 by Torii Shinjiro, which specialized in selling imported wines. Today, it is the country’s largest and most recognizable producer of quality whisky. Of all its products, the Hibiki remains the most popular, having been chosen as the best whisky in the world on several occasions.
Nose: Thick vanilla pudding, ripe dates, and plenty of dry woodiness. Pineapple and peach cobbler later on.
Palate: Definitely a hearty oak base here, yet it manages to simultaneously remain quite light on the tongue. Sweet wine starts to peek through along with a bit of vanilla towards the end.
Finish: A young, tingling spiciness takes us through more of that forest, but mizunara obviously has another appointment, since it all drops off a tad too quickly if you ask me. Very dry and leaves me reaching for my chaser.