Hibiki Harmony got into markets replacing the 12 Years old variety. Being a no-age statement whisky, maybe it's made available to a broader audience, it lives in turmoil with endless comparisons for the whisky it replaced. Removing age statements gives producers flexibility making whisky (how come 12 years are the minimum age in the bottle?), it creates a feeling of distrust with all the consumer familiar with visiting a number around the bottle.
Harmony is softer, gentler, and offers a quieter complexity compared to the discontinued 12 year old. You will find whiskies which are had top in a loud crowd, and whiskies you'll savor most which has a small number of of friends. Harmony is really a singular experience. Oahu is the whisky that includes a lot to say, but speaks quietly. Sure, it isn't really Hibiki 12, yet it's quite possible who's has more to provide.
What's from the whisky?
Hibiki may be the high-end blended brand from Beam Suntory. Hibiki 17 and 21 year-old are beautiful whiskies, along with the 21 is just about the best whiskies I've tasted. All Hibiki releases are a combination of malted barley and grain whisky, with various forms of oak used. It is a combination of malt from Yamazaki, Hakashu, and Chita whisky (mostly corn whisky). Regarding barrels used, there's American oak, some sherry oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak.
While blended whisky receives a bad reputation, and Hibiki makes an effort to never market itself as a result, it becomes an demonstration of why blended whiskies shouldn't be ignored.
Nose: Notes of the vanilla-citrus terrine. Wonderful caramel sweetness when combined bright orange zest, joined with heavier toasted spice notes. A realistic oaky spice gets control the nose after having a time, and that will give you something quite different. It's buttery, includes a touch of char, nice vanilla, some candied ginger combined with the mix. A combination of vanilla citrus finishes over nose after a while.
Palate: A lovely spread of oak tannins, vanilla sweetness, sharp pepper spice, and a buttery finish. Honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg come through nicely. It's sharper for the palate than on the nose. The tip is gentle, and heavier over a mixture of buttery-sweet and cinnamon spice.
Conclusion: The nose does wonders, and the palate is a little more ordinary, but overall the very best Hibiki you'll be able to buy available on the market. It's priced well in the market where the supply and demand chart for Japanese whisky is out-of-this-world.
For more details about ruou Hibiki Harmony explore this web portal