Hibiki 17 Year

Is this the best dram i have drank on 2018?, so far it is. Let me start saying that i had this sample for a long time waiting for a special time and i have decided that my whisky No. 300 is going to be the world's famous Hibiki 21yo, but i cant have that one without going on the 17yo first, so this, my whisky No. 299 is the also world's famous Hibiki 17yo. Easily one of the best blended whiskies i have ever had. Bottled at 43%abv, deep gold color. Lets start with its main feature: it is super complex. On the nose, smells wonderful: Dark dried cake, wedding cake, Red fruits, very Winey, Berries; Impalpable sugar, cake custard cream. Wonderfully complex so sweet, Must have been seasoned in sherry casks due to its profile on the nose. After some minutes, red apple juice and Creme brulee. The empty glencairn leaves notes of Sweet Quince (in Ecuador we call it membrillo dulce, google it) and blackberry jam. It is a dessert. On the palate it is imperative to have the more quantity of sips as possible since it changes and changes with every sip. First sip (without having anything to eat or drink in a couple hours) (yes, i prepared myself for this) which is suppossed to be harsher than the rest of the sips, is Hot, Spicy, Oaky, Sugary but exceptionally smooth. The rest of the sips is where everything goes wild. Orange, Caramel, Cough syrup. For a hot/oaky dram it is very pleasant. Super delicious sensation, Ashes are also there, Hints of smoke, Hints of brown sugar; Mostly oaky but very refined. Bitter sherry, Almonds and also pepper. Incredibly complex as you can see. Aftertaste has a ginger mixed with sugar syrup note, finish is very very long, mouth-full, powerful but very lovely. Mouth watering. Spicy delight behind teeth. You wish this was food. You wish you could eat this dram rather to drink it. It is simply amazing. Overall, 100 over 100 is the only score i can give it, having a 25/25 on the nose, palate, finish and balance. KANPAI! (slaintè in japanese)

Surprisingly noses like a barrel proof bourbon, deep and rich with vanilla and oak. Palate is incredibly balanced, exposing signs of richness while staying delicate and floral at the same time. It’s like merging all the best characteristics of red and white wines in one beverage, and raising the flavor level to 11. Finish isn’t terribly long but it’s gradual and elegant. This was a bucket list dram for me and I’m stoked to have gotten this chance to try it!

After some test bottles with customers after meeting.. they're getting serious and opened this one (only thing I relief is I didn't pay 😆) For $1,300.. I did expect a lot but.. 🥃: Still Whisky.. but yes, a lot better than Scotch or Irish, for me, its smooth was nice and finish was good, but not much complex and its sweet and fruity, with lychee, orange and honey made me feel a bit weird.. I can't say why. I'm not for Whisky at all cost 😅😅

I don’t normally give 5 stars, but this Hibiki 17 is really great! Recently I had the Hibiki 21 at a Japanese whisky tasting and it was good, but it was a little too old for my liking. The 17 year is probably the sweet spit for age. Smooth rich and an amazing velvety mouth feel. I don’t know if the price will ever go down enough to warrant me spending big bucks on a bottle, but I’ll still put it in my wishlist anyways!

A rich, Japanese blend whisky from Suntory. It has an aromatic birth with notes of caramel, honey, wax resin, oak. gentle smoke, cacao, & hints of cooked fruit, plum & nuts; while a rich & full life adds crisp notes of mixed peels, raisin, custard with a little zest & plenty of oak & vanilla; while a long death adds notes of oak, cocoa & sherried peels. October 2017 / August 2018 / July 2022

Nose- light and soft, butterscotch, pineapple, raisins, toffee, floral Palate- honey, ginger, pear, apple cider, touch of mizanura oak Finish- Medium, thin finish with notes of sweet honey and an apple/pear cider This is just an average whisky. I would be infuriated if I spent $400 on this. The difference between the 17 and 21 is astounding.