Hibiki Harmony got into markets replacing the 12 Yr old variety. Being a no-age statement whisky, maybe it's distributed around a broader audience, it also lives in turmoil with endless comparisons towards the whisky it replaced. Removing age statements gives producers flexibility making whisky (how is it that 12 years function as the minimum age within the bottle?), it generates a a feeling of distrust with all the consumer accustomed to going to a number about the bottle.
Harmony is softer, gentler, and offers a quieter complexity compared to the discontinued 12 yr old. You will find whiskies which are had finest in a loud crowd, and whiskies you'll relish most with a select few of friends. Harmony is often a singular experience. It does not take whisky that carries a lot to state, but speaks quietly. Sure, it isn't really Hibiki 12, but it's entirely possible which it has more to make available.
What's from the whisky?
Hibiki could be the high-end blended brand from Beam Suntory. Hibiki 17 and 21 years old are beautiful whiskies, along with the 21 is considered the most best whiskies I've tasted. All Hibiki releases certainly are a mixture of malted barley and grain whisky, with assorted kinds of oak used. This can be a mixture of malt from Yamazaki, Hakashu, and Chita whisky (mostly corn whisky). In terms of barrels used, there's American oak, some sherry oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak.
While blended whisky receives a bad reputation, and Hibiki bakes an effort to not market itself therefore, it is deemed an instance of why blended whiskies really should not be ignored.
Nose: Notes of your vanilla-citrus terrine. Wonderful caramel sweetness when combined bright orange zest, coupled with heavier toasted spice notes. A traditional oaky spice starts the nose following a time, and that gives you something quite different. It's buttery, has a touch of char, nice vanilla, a bit of candied ginger combined with the amalgamation. A mixture of vanilla citrus finishes over nose over time.
Palate: A beautiful spread of oak tannins, vanilla sweetness, sharp pepper spice, plus a buttery finish. Honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg come through nicely. It's sharper for the palate compared to the nose. The finish is gentle, and heavier with a mixture of buttery-sweet and cinnamon spice.
Conclusion: The nose does wonders, as well as the palate is a touch more ordinary, but overall the best Hibiki you are able to buy available on the market. It's priced well in the market where the demand and supply chart for Japanese whisky is out-of-this-world.
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