A world renowned Japanese blend, Hibiki 17 Year Old is made with aged malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's distilleries. Initially released in 1989, the blend is matured in Japanese mizunara oak casks at Yamazaki. Hibiki means harmony, which has certainly been achieved in this wonderful and iconic blend.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
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.
Sweet and rich. There are crisp notes of mixed peels, raisin and custard with a little zest and plenty of oak.
Long with notes of oak and cocoa and sherried peels.
Like any good whisky, this gets better the more you taste. Wonderful spice on the nose, clean, fresh slightly woody taste, and very long spicy finish. Sublime stuff indeed. I've never been to Japan, but this brings to mind some of the tastes and smells I would expect if I visited...very clever, and very Japanese...wet wood, flowers gardens after rain, and a fragrance that is so sensual. And as a little bonus, it comes in a very stylish bottle indeed. Highly recommended without reservation.
Have just stacked this up against my favourite Scotch - a Talisker dark storm, which I thought was a bit of an improvement over the original, and this Hibiki just demolishes it. Very mellow and straightfoward. The Talisker was brutal, but then I like them harsh. This was anything but - a real pleasure to sip on, and you can taste the effort they put into it. I've tried a few Japanese scotches, all the way up to the Yamazaki 25, which was a bit treacley, but as it was the dowry for my wife, it served its purpose and went down well. I would still rate this Hibiki 17 well above it. These guys did a great job. Enjoy.
They serve this in business class on ANA airlines, in a superb little miniature bottle. (There are cheaper ways to get it than buying an air ticket I suppose.)
Wonderful Ibiki and great website
I go to Japan every year and buy this. Plus it's a lot cheaper there. Around $70 dollars.
