Insider knowledge: Hibiki 17 Year Old whisky is named whisky by virtue of the fact it's from Japan. If distilled in America the spelling would be Hibiki 17 Year Old whiskey, as opposed to whisky.
The nose is quite full. There are notes of honey and wax, resin and oak. There are notes of gentle smoke and cacao, hints of cooked fruit and a nutty note. The palate is sweet and rich. There are crisp notes of mixed peels, raisin and custard with a little zest and plenty of oak. The finish is long with notes of oak and cocoa and sherried peels.
The Master of Malt
Coals to Newcastle?
This is one of the fines drops I have tried, Having tried, Royal Salute, Blue label at nearly 3 times the cost, I have to say the Japs could teach the Scotts a thing or too, how to do it better and cheaper, oh and the bottle. Superb! One of the best Malts you will try for the price.
Is it Malt or Blend?
I thought i saw blended whisky is it a blend or a malt blend??
Master of Malt Reply
It is a blend of both malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's three distilleries. Hope this helps! - The Chaps at Master of Malt -
Excellent Whisky
This is a very full, rich and lingering whisky. A bit on the sweeter, dried-fruit end. Every time I poured a glass I was impressed by how amenable the Hibiki 17 was — Highly recommended! I did a full review on my blog at http://eronrauch.blogspot.com/2011/02/whisky-review-hibiki-suntory-17-year.html if you want more details!
It's a Keeper
I'm primarily a single malt drinker, so I wasn't expecting all that much from a blend. What a pleasant surprise! This was one of the nicest blends I've tried, and one I will keep on my shelf to share with my friends. It is very smooth, and finishes neatly. It is light, but surprisingly complex. A slight oak flavor with a little bit of smoke, but not over powering. Definately a keeper.
It's a winner
Exquisite. Enough said.
Good and Unique
A review by Tommy Byrne Overall rating: 7,5/10 - Good and Unique As many western whisky enthusiasts, I discovered the Suntory whisky brand a few years ago thanks to Bill Murray’s sells pitch in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translations: “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time”. Having first tried the Yamazaki 12 years old Single Malt, I had huge expectations from the brand who made me forget it was not actually drinking a true scotch whisky. Swirling in my very favourite Glencairn glass, the old gold fluid already let you know you are dealing with an almost full body whisky. Starting with some dried bananas and apricots nosing notes, honeydew and pineapple soon appear after the first sip. While the toasted barley and dry fruits blends in with balance to an insinuation of toffee in the palate, I found it a little too sharp for a 17 years old whisky. However, the addition of a drop of water will definitely make up for it. Reaching the finishing line, we know we are dealing with a fine-aged product, it last remarkably in the mouth, reminding you that you are drinking a hundred dollar whisky. I’ve never been a strong fan of scotch-type blended whiskies; they always seem to lack of a true essence and hide their original personality. Why blend this sweet nectar with an obscure array of distilled spirits, when the angels delightfully take their shares in the untainted form? Then again, let’s be clear, the 17 years old version of Suntory Hibiki is a great product made with a thorough process by Japanese master blenders who have perfectly reproduced the style and character of a Speyside whisky to my sense. Being an unconditional devotee to Islay Malts, I think that a stronger hint of peat would really transform this whisky into what some have already branded it: “The best whisky in the world”.
very nice