Hibiki Harmony entered markets replacing the 12 Year Old variety. Like a no-age statement whisky, it may be distributed around a broader audience, but it also lives in turmoil with endless comparisons on the whisky it replaced. Removing age statements gives producers flexibility making whisky (how is it that 12 years function as minimum age from the bottle?), but it also creates a a feeling of distrust with the consumer used to seeing a number for the bottle.
Harmony is softer, gentler, and will be offering a quieter complexity in comparison to the discontinued 12 years old. You'll find whiskies that are had finest in a loud crowd, and whiskies you'll relish most having a small group of friends. Harmony is often a singular experience. It is the whisky that has a lot to convey, but speaks quietly. Sure, it is not Hibiki 12, but it's entirely possible who's has more to provide.
What's from the whisky?
Hibiki is the high-end blended brand from Beam Suntory. Hibiki 17 and 21 yr old are beautiful whiskies, as well as the 21 is considered the most best whiskies I've tasted. All Hibiki releases can be a combination of malted barley and grain whisky, with assorted forms of oak used. This can be a mix of malt from Yamazaki, Hakashu, and Chita whisky (mostly corn whisky). As for barrels used, there's American oak, some sherry oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak.
While blended whisky turns into a bad reputation, and Hibiki makes an effort to never market itself therefore, it is really an example of why blended whiskies mustn't be ignored.
Nose: Notes of your vanilla-citrus terrine. Wonderful caramel sweetness when combined bright orange zest, along with heavier toasted spice notes. A traditional oaky spice gets control of the nose after a time, knowning that provides you with something quite different. It's buttery, has a touch of char, nice vanilla, a little bit of candied ginger put into a combination. A variety of vanilla citrus finishes from the nose with time.
Palate: An attractive spread of oak tannins, vanilla sweetness, sharp pepper spice, along with a buttery finish. Honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg come through nicely. It's sharper around the palate than on the nose. The tip is gentle, and heavier on a mixture of buttery-sweet and cinnamon spice.
Conclusion: The nose does wonders, and also the palate might be a more ordinary, but overall the top Hibiki you are able to buy out there. It's priced well within a market the location where the supply and demand chart for Japanese whisky is out-of-this-world.
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