Hibiki Harmony arrived to markets replacing the 12 Years old variety. As a no-age statement whisky, it can be offered to a broader audience, but it also resides in turmoil with endless comparisons for the whisky it replaced. Removing age statements gives producers flexibility making whisky (why must 12 years function as the minimum age inside the bottle?), it creates a a feeling of distrust together with the consumer used to visiting a number around the bottle.
Harmony is softer, gentler, and offers a quieter complexity in comparison to the discontinued 12 years old. There are whiskies which are had very best in a loud crowd, and whiskies you'll savor most which has a small selection of of friends. Harmony can be a singular experience. Oahu is the whisky that includes a lot to convey, but speaks quietly. Sure, it isn't Hibiki 12, but it is entirely possible that it has more to make available.
What's in the whisky?
Hibiki is the high-end blended brand from Beam Suntory. Hibiki 17 and 21 year-old are beautiful whiskies, and the 21 is considered the most best whiskies I've tasted. All Hibiki releases are a combination of malted barley and grain whisky, with various forms of oak used. This can be a mixture of malt from Yamazaki, Hakashu, and Chita whisky (mostly corn whisky). For barrels used, there's American oak, some sherry oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak.
While blended whisky gets a bad reputation, and Hibiki bakes an effort never to market itself therefore, it is really an demonstration of why blended whiskies should not be ignored.
Nose: Notes of a vanilla-citrus terrine. Wonderful caramel sweetness when combined bright orange zest, combined with heavier toasted spice notes. A realistic oaky spice gets control the nose after a time, knowning that offers you something a little different. It's buttery, includes a touch of char, nice vanilla, a certain amount of candied ginger added to the mix. A mixture of vanilla citrus finishes off the nose over time.
Palate: A beautiful spread of oak tannins, vanilla sweetness, sharp pepper spice, along with a buttery finish. Honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg come through nicely. It's sharper about the palate than on the nose. The finish is gentle, and heavier over a combination of buttery-sweet and cinnamon spice.
Conclusion: The nose does wonders, and also the palate is a touch more ordinary, but overall the best Hibiki you can actually buy on the market. It's priced well in a market the place that the demand and supply chart for Japanese whisky is out-of-this-world.
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