Hibiki

Japanese Harmony Whisky 700mL

Hibiki’s parent company, Suntory, has a nearly century-long involvement in producing single malt and grain whiskies inspired by the Scottish whisky-making tradition. The brand’s Yamazaki distillery was opened by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. His son, Keizo Saji, opened the Chita grain distillery near Nagoya to produce more neutral and nonmalt grain spirits for component whiskies. And Suntory and Saji opened the high-altitude Hakushu distillery deep in the forests of Mount Kaikomagatake (Kaikoma) in 1973. Each is known for distinctive whiskies, employing local waters, different yeasts and distinct stills, warehouse environments and barrel types, producing more than 100 distinct malt and grain whiskies.
With Hibiki Japanese Harmony, the company blends together at least 10 malt and grain whiskies and five different cask types to create a pleasing, “harmonious” blend, with Shinjiro’s great-grandson Shingo Torii at the helm and master blender Shinji Fukuyo composing.
Color: Deep gold with a very slight amber or copper note
Nose: Well-defined aromatics float among nutty, floral and earthy, with hints of light raw coconut, apricot, saline and chrysanthemum and just a hint of rosemary or sage.
Palate: A medium-bodied whisky, it opens both sweet and nutty with a hint of almond, dried fruit and coconut. By the midpalate, nougat and apricot notes appear, with hints of wood, cigar, leather and sea hitting toward the back of the mouth.
Finish: A lingering, midlength finish brings hints of spice, cigar, chocolate, dark fruit, vegetal oak and roasted nuts. Elegant tannins bring a clean, light “bite” throughout.