Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Got this bottle as gift from some wonderful friends. Have to say, the presentation is wonderful. Perhaps, one of the best looking bottles in the whisky world. The spirit itself has a beautiful golden/amber color. Nose - immediately get hit with tons of orchard fruits. I get apples, pears, mango skin. Hints of flowers such as jasmine, rose, lavender are present as well. Also get some ethanol, suggesting that it maybe young? Not sure. Will become once I taste. I also get mild amount of lemon, orange and some salt on the nose. Very very fresh and vibrant smellinb nose. Has a perfumy quality to it too. Tongue - first thing i feel is this cooling effect on the tongue. Then im hit immediately with lots of sweetness! Wow, is this sweet or what?! In a good way. Doesnt coat the mouth that well but thats expected of a lower abv spirit. I get sugar syrup, tart apples, pineapples, banana. I do get lots of floral notes. While it doesnt taste like parsley, but i am reminded of those kinds of herbs. Especially, the after taste. This is very interesting. Finish is short. On the mouth it feels like a younger whisky that has been diluted, but somehow still rich enough. The cooling effect lingers. All in all, a very pleasant, easy sipper! Perfect for spring and summer.

Nose: The aroma is invitingly sweet and fruity, with prominent notes of apples, raisins, and orange peel. There's a delightful hint of white chocolate that adds a creamy undertone to the bouquet. Palate: On the palate, this whisky is a fruit-forward delight. The taste is dominated by juicy plums, reminiscent of fresh plum juice, complemented by dried fruits like raisins, dates, and figs. The smooth texture is enhanced by a subtle hint of cinnamon spice, making each sip a balanced and enjoyable experience. Finish: The finish is short to medium in length, leaving a sweet aftertaste with traces of honey and white chocolate. It's a pleasant conclusion to a well-rounded tasting journey. Overall: Hibiki Harmony is an enjoyable whisky that offers a harmonious blend of sweet and fruity flavors. While it may be a bit overhyped, it stands out as a good one-time purchase. The bottle itself is a work of art, adding a touch of elegance to any collection. I still prefer Nikka from the barrel to this.

Have waited 6-7 years to find a bottle of this, while the price rose from $80 to $100. But finally scored one. Tasting neat. Light golden straw in the glass, with substantial coating legs. The nose is floral grain, grape, honey, and oak. In the mouth, oak and honey show up first, then grain and some grassy rye. The flavor intensity is understated and floral, but some smoky fruity flavors seep in. Mouthfeel is vicous and tingling. The finish is honey, oak, and spice, dry and fairly long, then leans a little dry sour at the tail end. Classic Japanese whisky blend, in color and floral grain and sherry finish. Soft, complex, surprisingly tactile mouthfeel. I've tried it in a classic Whisky Highball (excellent! but an expensive mixer) and with an ice cube (meh). Pricy, so will enjoy this bottle judiciously.

Nose: A little deader than I remember, I think this bottle may be starting to turn. I'm getting vanilla, cinnamon spice, oak, some earthy sherry but it is not overly prominent, there is a woody spicy element that's almost herbal in character here as well, light lemon peel. Honeyed fruit notes appear as you drink further. Palate: grain whisky initially. As your palate adjusts, the malt notes come out more. Sherry, baking spice, a little bit of a citrus zing. An earthy/musty malt/sherry note is here too. Honey. Overall very smooth, the initial sip burned but the rest of the glass is easy going. Finish: dusty malt, warming oak spice and tannin hints of sherry earthiness. A tiny hint of salinity?

A balanced Japanese blended whisky from the Hibiki range made with malt whiskies from the Yamazaki & Hakushu distilleries, as well as grain whisky from the Chita distillery. The whiskies are drawn from 5 different types of casks, including American white oak casks, Sherry casks & Mizunara oak casks. The blend itself was crafted by the Suntory Whisky blending team, led by Master Blender Shingo Torii. It has an aromatic birth with notes of hibiscus, honey, & wood; while a rich life adds notes of custard, more honey & autumn fruits; that led to a balanced death of medium length adding notes of sweet chocolate & orange zest. October 2017 / June 2018 / July 2022

Nose: light, floral, grain whiskey, almost some citrus/lemon zest and green apple, mild honey, Sherry. Some oak Palate: lots of Sherry here, getting a strong fruitiness that is not sticky or overpowering. Sweet vanilla cream, a mild grain sharpness/bite. Honey and slight malt elements (nuttiness, malt sweetness). A moderate warm oakiness comes in as it transitions to the finish. Definitely getting a bit of spiciness here too, my guess is thats the mizunara coming through. Finish: mildly drying oak tannin, hints of earthy sherry, warming.