Hibiki Japanese Harmony Suntory Whisky, 70cl

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Hibiki 21 Wins World's Best Blended Whisky award". Whisky Magazine. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013 . Retrieved May 10, 2013. This distillery is a newcomer in the world of Japanese whisky, having only begun operations in 2016. Akkeshi is located in the far north of Japan on the island of Hokkaido, with a wet, cool climate that is likened to that of Islay in Scotland. This whisky, with a name that translates to “white crane,” is the first single malt release from the distillery, a young (at least three years old) blend of liquid aged in bourbon barrels, sherry butts, red wine casks, and Mizunara oak. It’s a fruity dram with notes of vanilla and spice, and being bottled at 96 proof provides a bit of heat that lingers on the palate as you sip. This is available in fairly limited numbers here in the US, but it’s definitely worth a try if you are a Japanese whisky fan. There are a few other expressions from the distillery to try as well, including the New Born “Foundations 4” blend matured in sherry and other types of casks, and the lightly-eated Usui blend.

BUY HERE Nikka Days 40% Suntory, The Yamakazi Distiller’s Reserve, 43% Suntory, The Yamakazi Distiller’s Reserve, 43% BUY HERE Suntory, The Yamakazi Distiller’s Reserve, 43% Aldi Kyasuku Japanese Whisky, 40% Aldi Kyasuku Japanese Whisky, 40% In Japanese whisky, “single grain” often (but not always) refers to the fact that the whisky is made from rice instead of barley. There are some who view this as essentially high-proof aged shochu (see the intro to this article), but there is often much more to this style of whisky than that. Teitessa is relatively new on the scene, and is made at the Fuji Takasago Distillery, also a sake brewery. A Sato still is used for distillation, which according to the brand is a column still shaped like a beehive on the inside that allows for better selection of the head and heart of the spirit. There are various expressions to choose from with an age range that rivals some of the best known scotch brands out there. The 15 and 25 are aged in American white oak barrels; the 20, 27, and 30 are aged in a trio of Spanish, American, and French oak. True, these don’t taste like Japanese single malts, but that’s because they are not–they are, however, interesting and refined sipping whiskies that shouldn’t be dismissed by single malt purists. Get the latest intel on which bottles of booze are worth your hard-earned cash. Join Esquire Select.Rather beautifully, ‘hibiki’ means resonance in Japanese, and this speaks to the artistic sensibility of the product. Hibiki was born in the form of a blend that was the result of sampling and tasting aged malt whiskies from one million casks at Suntory. The current incarnations are made from a blend of more than 30 individual malt and mellow grain whiskies, and the final blend is topped off with a whisky aged more than 30 years. This concludes a process that sees the master blender taste over 300 malt whisky samples a day. From its inception to its current forms, Hibiki’s craft and method reflects its core ideologies of harmony and resonance with a caring and precise vision. Hibiki translates as ‘harmony’ and the blender’s aim is to use those various whiskies to create something harmonious on the palate, and we think it achieves this brilliantly. Spend some time taking in its aroma and you’ll begin to appreciate the various elements coming together, with fruits, spices, floral and woody notes all present.

A new expression called "Japanese Harmony", with no age statement, was introduced in 2015. The new blend was said to use the same malt and grain whiskies used in the first Hibiki blend, being a blend of at least 10 malt and grain whiskies from three distilleries, aged in five different cask types, with some elements aged up to approximately 20 years. [5] [8] BUY HERE Aldi Kyasuku Japanese Whisky, 40% Kaiyo Mizunara Oak Peated, 46% Kaiyo Mizunara Oak Peated, 46% At this price, we’ve been unable to afford a bottle, so we’ll rely on tasting notes from The Whisky Exchange instead, who have the honour of selling the whisky, bottled by Elixir Distilleries, and with the beautiful label artwork produced by their creative director, Raj Chavda. On the nose they describe “Rich dried fruit, sweet leather and mushroomy earthiness”, with a palate of, among other things, “chocolate-covered liquorice… spicy leaves… cinnamon heat… pineapple, mango, apple and pear… hints of tar… and brown sugar sweetness.” Japanese whisky tends to be a bit more expensive than whisky from elsewhere in the world, so finding a bottle on a budget isn’t easy. Nikka Days is a good choice if you want to try out a Japanese whisky without breaking the bank, with its bright and cheerful character typical of the country’s output.

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Whatever mysterious magic this sea adventure conjures up seems to work a treat in their lightly peated whisky, where delicate, sweet vanilla and soft smoke merge with zesty citrus flavours and a honeyed sweetness. There are also fresh touches of berries and a dry oak that seems to catch the flow of the smoke like incense and drift with a dusty dryness that lingers for an age. A deliciously unique peated whisky. Japan is also noted for its blended whisky. Seen as an art form in Japan, the best whisky blenders are highly respected individuals. Often they will use a variety of whiskies to subtly build up layers of flavour, tending to favour delicacy and balance ahead of big, bold sipping experiences, to create a style that is distinctly Japanese. Karuizawa: why is it a cult whisky brand? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Pfanner, Eric (May 15, 2014). "Suntory Still has M&A Thirst". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved March 1, 2016. There’s a woodland feel to both aroma and flavour, with floral, oak and even slightly fungal notes present, along with some fruitier hits of cherry. It’s a complex whisky – keep sipping slowly and you might even detect some coconut, which is typical of mizunara whiskies – and it has a mellow depth that will make you want to savour every drop.

The first whiskies produced in Japan were made along similar lines to Scotch, but over the years the country’s output has evolved to appeal more to its own market by reflecting Japanese tastes. In turn, these unique whiskies have become much sought out around the world. Sherry cask malt whisky: Working as a “dressing” or highlight, this somewhat older whisky is the only dark-amber component of the main five and provides personality, flavor and top notes of dried fruit, cigar, plum and wood. Going by the overall color of Harmony, this must be a fairly small component of the blend. If you want to get your hands on an archetypical Japanese blended whisky then Suntory’s Hibiki is well worth investigating. It contains whisky from three of Suntory’s distilleries – malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain whisky from Chita. The answer is firmly, undeniably, YES. When it comes to handing out ‘world’s best whisky’ awards, winner’s certificates regularly make their way to Japanese distillery walls. For a truly Japanese tasting whisky, look for a spirit that has been aged in Japanese Oak, known as Mizunara, that produces a taste often compared to coconut. It’s hard to work with, but Japan’s whisky makers have perfected the craft and it is now used by several distilleries.Chita grain whisky: The company calls it the “dashi” or “broth” designed to bring everything together. On its own, it is clearly young but aromatically rich with caramel, anise and honey notes. When it comes to making an authentic Japanese highball, attention to detail is all important: everything needs to be just right. The right glass, the right whisky, the right soda and even the right kind of ice. For the whisky, you can’t go wrong with The Chita from Suntory.