Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The retail price is whatever someone is willing to pay. But the industry didnt stay down for long. But all the hype has come with a price. The 2019 Edition of Hibiki 17 is available for pre-order on Japanese whisky retailer Dekanta for a whopping $600, a $450 jump over the whisky's official $150 retail price. Overall, Hibiki Harmony is a mellow and smooth blended whisky. Hibiki Harmony has a color between copper and amber. Hibiki 21 has survived the cull, and its likely Suntory has prioritized keeping it alive. What is Suntory famous for? - Toccochicago.com Level-up your sushi bar game! Need I say more? Dalwhinnie doesnt have any Japanese mizunara oak, however. And that should be expected from a whisky that averages around $900+ per bottle. The Japanese whisky community is pretty opinionated. We are producing as much as possible without compromising the craft. Check it out and follow me to find more educational content. The Hibiki () blended whisky series was released in 1989 in a 17 Year and 21 Year Aged forms. But it may sell out quickly. With each award both the price and demand for the Hibiki 21 has risen, making the 17 the last of the current Hibiki aged range that could be bought at a price that wouldn't break the bank. All of these are from Suntory and its various distilleries. Hibiki 21 might be the most famous Japanese whisky. The 18-year-old channels the 12-year-old bottles freshness, and goes deeper. But dont count on Hibiki 21 being discontinued. Nathaniel Ganapathi (better known as Nate Gana) is. And fill the glass with ice. After speaking to a member of the Suntory Japan PR team over the weekend, its been confirmed that yet another bottle from the aged Hibiki range will be removed from the lineup. Hi Al nara! Wholesale prices across the US are not the same. Nectarous mouthfeel . Suntory announced it will stop selling Hakushu 12 Year and Hibiki 17 Year in 2018 and there are no plans to bring them back in . But for me, this first 30 Year Old is far and away the best thing I have ever tried out of this Islay gem. And many distilleries closed. The Yamazaki 12 YO is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and new oak casks, 80%, and the balance in a mix of sherry butts and Mizunara casks. Being mostly corn-based and column distilled, this grain portion adds lightness, soft texture, and fruit to the blend. On the nose and palate, 12 is bursting with Hakushus rich terroir pine, mint, grass, chamomile, rosemary and lemon. Dont expect to find any floating around in the open though, as only 232 bottles were produced. Hibiki, which first hit shelves in 1989, was designed as a more palatable alternative to blended Scotch, meant to be sipped neat or over ice. So they made what has since become the most popular whisky Japan: Suntory Kakubin. Sherry influence is notable, as is mizunara. Suntory released Hibiki 21 and Hibiki 17 Year (semi-discontinued) in 1989. Even if they dont match up exactly, if youre a fan of Japanese whiskies, they are certainly worth a taste! This Could Be Your Last Chance to Try One of Japan's - Gear Patrol Thats why the mizunara portions of Hibiki Harmony are supposedly the oldest constituents in the blend. In addition, over 80% of all Scottish whisky exports under three years of age go to Japan. Its somewhat aromatic with a nice mix of fruity and floral notes. And if youre a whisky generalist, there are many other excellent whiskies available that are much more affordable than Hibiki Harmony. Mr. Duffy lives in Illinois, where he teaches classes on Irish/Scotch history & production, and for eight years was the co-producer of the Chicago Independent Spirits Expo. And retailers are charging an arm and a leg for the Hibiki 21 thats available. A steep price is the biggest downside. Hakushu is the only whisky in the Suntory profile that utilizes peated malt (the company imports it from Scotland), but thanks to exceptionally low mineral content water flowing from Mount Kaikomagatake and a much lower peat level, its intentionally tamer than the peat bombs Scotch drinkers may be used to. You can shop around and have the bottle delivered. The grain whisky uses corn and is distilled in a light, medium or heavy style . So to supply a thirsty market, several iconic labels were cut. It was truly crazy!. And now it is fetching as much as $3,100 two years later! However, Hibiki 12 is also significantly more expensive than Harmony. Hibiki 12 was discontinued in 2015, as were many aged Yoichis and Miyagikyos, among other releases. Some of this may be destined for low-level blends, some however, seems destined to reappear on the world market as Japanese whisky.. Suntory Toki is a blended whisky using Chita grain and malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu. Dont forget the almonds or quince either. For example, limited-edition offerings from Suntory tend to appreciate rapidly. And deals can be very hard to find. Theyre both blended whiskies from prestigious Japanese whisky manufacturers. Your email address will not be published. Its not just the quality of the malt and grain blending components that makes Hibiki 21 so delicious. And a few more whiskies are included that are worth considering. Lost in Translation was a big hit. Now, TUN 1509 has taken its place and has a capacity of four times what 1401 did. This post breaks down why this Suntory whisky is special. Hibiki Harmony, Nikka Coffey Grain, and Nikka Coffey Malt are not that similar. Neat is a great way to enjoy the subtle but complex flavors of Harmony. Just a few weeks prior, I wrote on the addition of the premium blend on the Japan Airlines in-flight menu, but as usual, things change quicker than expected in an industry based around time and aging. Suntory wont say much about the ages of the component whiskies. But first, lets look at how Hibiki 21 is made. This has created a scarcity of the Suntory Hibiki whiskey, pushing prices up, making it very expensive. If you are going to spend $95 for a Hibiki Harmony, try Fuji single grain, it is very good. The spices are different but are there from the French oak. Though aged stock is lessening, the major Japanesewhisky maker is optimistic about the categorys growth in the future, and will not make the mistake of running out of stock again.
