Hibiki
Japanese Whisky
by Brian Donnelly
The Art of Japanese Whisky
Parent Company: Beam Suntory
Master Blender: Shingo Torii (third-generation and great-grandson of the founder)
Chief Blender: Shinji Fukuyo
Establish: 1989
Fun Fact: Hibiki was relatively unknown outside of Japan, until the Hibiki® 30 Year Old won “World’s Best Blended Whisky” category at the World Whiskies Award in London. This was the first time a Japanese whisky had ever won such an award.
““In philosophy and making, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is the new dawn of Hibiki, optimizing the same key malt and grain whiskies from the original Hibiki blend. I envisioned a luminous harmony of flavors and aromas. A pure and simultaneously complex harmony that was at the core of every Hibiki blend.””
History
Hibiki, which translate to harmony, is a Japanese blended whisky, and the flagship item from Suntory, first released in 1989 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the company. Hibiki is not your typical blended whisky, but instead is incredibly well constructed, offering a stunning range of flavors, and showcases the immense skill of Suntory’s master blenders.
Hibiki is a meticulous blend produced using 10 different whiskies from the various House of Suntory distilleries. The malt whisky in the blend is sourced from the Yamazaki and Hakusku distilleries, with the grain whisky sourced from the Chita distillery. The whisky is matured in 5 different casks, including American White Oak, Japanese Oak (Mizunara), Ex-Sherry, and a cask that previously held a Japanese plum liqueur know as Umeshu. Hibiki is packaged in a unique decanter-style bottle that has 24 facets representing the 24 seasons in the old Japanese lunar calendar. This range of whiskies embodies the soul of Japanese craftsmanship, encapsulating the harmony that exists between the Japanese people and nature. This blend brings together a harmonious complexity, calmness, and what the Japanese call Wa, or oneness.
Hibiki Harmoney
The ideal gift! Buy the best whiskey online. Price and reviews available for Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky - 750ml Bottle. Given the name, it should come as no surprise that Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is a harmonious blend of Japanese craftsmanship. Considered the paragon of Japanese whisky, Hibiki is a unique blend of several malt and grain whiskies that are meticulously added, resulting in an orchestra of aromas and flavors. Hibiki is theculmination of the Japanese art of blending and expert craftsmanship, with a healthy heaping of luxury thrown in for good measure. The brand was launched in 1989 to celebrate the brand Suntory's 90th birthday, and it's become Japan's most highly awarded blended whisky of all time. More than that, Hibiki takes the honor of being among the most prestigious whiskies the world over. Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is both delicate and luminous with a wonderful complexity. The amber-colored liquid smells of rosemary, rose, lychee and sandalwood, paving the way for a honey-like sweetness with notes of white chocolate and candied orange peel. As for the finish, Hibiki Japanese Haromy is subtle with a hint of Japanese oak, which lingers on the palate. Its best enjoyed neat, on the rocks or with a bit of water added. Japanese whisky pairs remarkably well with Japanese food, so don't be afraid to drink it with sashimi, sushi or a strong fermented fish. It also makes a wonderful cocktail, such as the Sokaiya, which consists of Hibiki, bitter Sencha green tea and ginger liqueur. Buy Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky online through Drizly and have it delivered directly to your door or pick it up in store.
Hibiki Blossom Harmony
The ideal gift! Buy the best whiskey online. Price and reviews available for Hibiki Blossom Japanese Harmony Whiskey - 700ml Bottle. Luminous. Delicate. A transparency that unveils complexity. Color: Amber Nose: Rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood Palate: Honey like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate Finish: Subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak)
Hibiki 12 Year Old
The ideal gift! Buy the best whiskey online. Price and reviews available for Hibiki 12 Year Old Japanese Whisky - 750ml Bottle. An exquisite 12 year old blended Japanese whisky. Hibiki 12 Year includes malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu, as well as grain whisky from Chita. The whisky is partly matured in plum liqueur barrels.
Hibiki 17 Year Old
The ideal gift! Buy the best whiskey online. Price and reviews available for Hibiki 17 Year Old Japanese Whisky - 750ml Bottle. Hibiki 17 Year Old Whisky is elegant, poised and reveals a clear yet complex equilibrium. Color: Amber; Nose: Peach, apricot, melon, rose, lily, lemon leaf; Palate: Toffee, black cherry, vanilla and Mizunara; Finish: Sweet, fruity, with lychee aftertaste
Hibiki 21 Year Old
The ideal gift! Buy the best whiskey online. Price and reviews available for Hibiki 21 Year Old Japanese Whisky - 750ml Bottle. Bronze amber in color, Suntory Hibiki 21 Year Old is amazingly balanced and tenderly unfolding a calm essence of sandalwood, honeycomb, caramelized nuts, ripe banana and rich sherry spice. The rich and complex palate offers notes of cooked fruit, dried apricot, dark cherry, caramel, spice and Mizunara. Hints of incense and smoke lingers through the long, structured finish.
Support The Spirits Educator
If you would like to support the content here, please click the button below to buy me a cocktail or neat pour through PayPal. You can also use Venmo @thespiritseducator.
Thank you for your support
Affiliate Disclosure
The links for product recommendations in this post are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. This helps support this website so that I can continue to bring you new content.
Please Drink Responsibly.