Hibiki 12 Year

Had a vertical Hibiki tasting: Some lovely 1.5oz pours of Harmony ($10), 12 year ($22.50), and the 21 year ($75). Best value for money ends up going to the 12. I did not like Harmony (63/100), and the 21 (review upcoming) did not add much to justify being 3x the price. NOSE: Sherry, not sherry! There is such a distinct Asian plum on the nose because of some Asian trickery! This was partly matured in casks that once held plum liquer. Orange marmalade. Apple juice. Floral, so, because it’s Japanese, cherry blossoms. Of course, right? Terroir does exist. It’s not a property of the spirit, it’s a property of our minds. PALATE: So soft. It’s like eating a pillow. Comparing this to the Harmony highlights the difference between a whiskey that’s subtle (the 12), and a whiskey that’s absent (Harmony). Plums, oranges, apples, and flower petals are again on the forefront, but superbly balanced with oak, vanilla, and honey. Spiciness leans towards cinnamon, but is very slight. You can tell the grain components are properly aged, and add a good backbone. FINISH: Plums stay on board, but never does it get overpowering or become unwelcomed. Fruity sweetness gradually becomes a little sour and bitter; just a gentle nudge to take another sip. I don’t mind at all. VERDICT: Nothing really pops out of this dram. It’s a picturesque scene rather than a compelling story. The price for this before Yamazaki divided by 0 was $50-60. Double that? Fine, maybe still worth it. Quadruple that? No way. Bottles are now around $200, and I don’t do investing. I know for consumption purposes, this is not worth $200. MARK: 82/100.

I believe the 12 has been largely replaced by the NAS "Harmony" edition. It will be harder to find. That being said, this is one of my favorite whiskys. This is very much a solid grain scotch with some serious fruit overtones. The plum on the nose is thick and a strong tangerine on the taste. It has a great viscosity and weight to it in the mouth. It also comes in one of the coolest bottles around. This use to be had for 70$. Not sure what it would run today if I could find a bottle, but it probably has appreciated quite a bit as most Japanese whisky have over the last 5 years. It's a no brainer grab if you should stumble across a bottle for the right price.

It's unfortunate they stopped bottling this because it is a darn good whisky. Nose is very fragrant with lots of surprises - you can tell immediately that it will be a sweeter whisky. Your palate can confirm as it is the sweetness that immediately hits your tongue. The finish is lacking and diminishes rather quickly, but still a darn good whisky nonetheless. NOSE: Rose petals, plums, peaches, almonds, marzipan, maraschino cherries, nutmeg, subtle nori PALATE: Mandarin oranges, ripened plums, brown sugar, caramelized pears, canned peaches, honey FINISH: Oak, sea salt, lychee Rating: 88/100 Grade: B+ Great - always want to have a bottle.

Nose- ginger, mushy bananas, butterscotch, vanilla Palate- bananas, caramel, ginger spice, light smoke, vanilla, butterscotch Finish- medium, creamy finish with notes of butterscotch and light smoke Really really nice overall. Fantastic nose, matching palate, and a finish that is just good enough. Could be longer, but the banana on the nose and palate is really enticing to me. I wish I could find this on shelves, but unfortunately, since it’s discontinued, I won’t be seeing another. Would be a perfect ~$80 drinker.

Lovely floral nose, reminiscent of a summer night in a botanical garden. A sip uncovers flavors of lemons, custard and a bite of spice. The finish is long, sweet and malty. Perversely, I tasted this after trying the 21-year-old at the weekend, forgetting that I had samples of both, so I’ve missed the opportunity to try them side by side. No question that the 21 is in a different class, but this is a worthy example of a floral style I like almost as much as the peat monsters.

Fruity on the nose (not sure about plum; more like apples/oranges), with hints of biscuits, a sweet nuttiness and herbal tea. If you like chamomile... prepare to be POW, BANG, POOM! Adam West's Batman-style. The floral profile meets honey is wonderful. I hunted this bottle online and overpaid for it. $130 USD. Crazy of me? Maybe. But at least it's a delicious dram. Slainte!