Nathaniel Ganapathi (better known as Nate Gana) is. What kind of beer is Suntory? There are layers of citrus and spice notes, plus sandalwood, stone fruit, raisin, almond, honey, ginger, aloe, toffee, and caramel. The Hibiki 17-Year-Old, a famed Japanese whisky by Suntory that was featured in the 2003 movie Lost In Translation, will be officially discontinued. Many Japanese whiskies come relatively close. So its the epitome of watered-down. More on that below. The grain whisky uses corn and is distilled in a light, medium or heavy style . Its received significant fanfare since then. The smoke is heather/potpourri like rather than medicinal. So its way more affordable than Hibiki 21. Ever since this whiskey was discontinued, it has become one of the worlds hottest investments. The distillery formerly known as Clynelish (yes, youre reading correctly) is making a comeback, along with the one listed directly below, so whisky fans can rejoice! If youre looking for a total bargain, small independent liquor stores may be your best hope. Check it out and follow me to find more educational content. Hibiki 21 has survived the cull, and its likely Suntory has prioritized keeping it alive. It will still be some time before theyre caught up. American white oak-aged malt whisky is the backbone. 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. So I love forks in the road. The Hibiki () blended whisky series was released in 1989 in a 17 Year and 21 Year Aged forms. My guess is Hibiki 21 will continue to be in high demand. It pairs dried fruit and sandalwood with hints of heather, smoke, honey, and brine. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Its not a bad investment, but there are better options in my opinion. Its a good place to start trying Yamazaki, and one that, if you find yourself in Japan, wont break the bank. At around $200to$300 a bottle, this is well worth adding to your collection., A limited edition whisky that was truly exquisite. Hibiki Japanese Harmony isn't discontinued. Hibiki operates out of 3 distilleries in Japan: In Yamazaki, Hakaushu, and Chita, Japan. The supply of Hibiki 21 is very limited. Level-up your sushi bar game! I've done side by sides with Hibiki 12, that's the closest match I've found of the whiskies I can buy which aren't extremely rare or expensive, without getting into home blending experiments. If your favorite Japanese whisky tastes a bit like Scotch, that may be because there is Scotch in the blend. In my opinion, nothing you can add to Hibiki 21 is going to make it taste better than it does already. Expect to pay north of $2,500 a bottle. The updated packaging was the result of a rebrand that occurred last year. Diluted to bottling strength, its conceivable that up to 20% of the whisky bottled in Japan originated in Scotland. Given 94 points or higher by multiple critics, this peated knockout is at least five to six times in value, so dont be surprised if you find people sitting on their private collection waiting for the right offer., Perhaps the most unique of the bunch, as it is possibly the hardest bottle to come by on this list! Well, Hibiki Harmony replaced Hibiki 12. Hibiki. Im officially 34 now and I would say the obsession started at 29, so Im definitely a late bloomer compared to how early others are starting out these days. Its the benchmark Hibiki an award-getting bottle that shows off the power of Japanese whisky making technique and, more specifically, the Mizunara oak tree. In 2017, Suntory officially discontinued Hibiki 17. Expectthe price of the Hibiki 17 to rise on the secondary market and bottles to become ever harder to find. This is often the best way to save money. The price for Hibiki 21 has been rising steadily for over a decade. Get it from my Etsy store starting at $28.55 plus shipping. It has been instrumental in pushing the premium blended category across the world, educating drinkers, and changing the misconceived idea that blends are inferior to single malts. And it will teach you how to become a savvy buyer of Hibiki 21. If I can get them at my local Total Wine for $95 a pop, to me it is well worth it. This boozy and old-school cocktail is simply sugar, bitters, and whisky. NAS stands for non-age statement or no age statement. SRP: Not Available in the USYear Introduced: 2014Production: Ongoing. It also uses many barrel types for aging but focuses on Sherry casks and ex-Bourbon barrels. Your email address will not be published. The same goes for local shops. Instead of sherry on the back-end, its the first thing you taste. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Creme brulee, chocolate cake, and apple pie are just a few worth trying. At around $1,200 (if you can find it) this is probably one of the best deals!, ICHIROS MALT HANYU JOKER CARD (REGULAR AND MONOCHROMATIC), The last in the collection of 54 playing cards from the now defunct and extremely famous Hanyu Distillery, located in the town of the same name. Top-end whiskies like Yamazaki 25, Hibiki 30, and Hakushu 25 are available for around $30 (per 0.5 oz. These all share some of the aroma and flavor components of Yoichi, which make it extremely attractive. Steve Beal: Yoichi fans might easily enjoy several options. 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. Its also three- to five-times the price. Both whiskies are only lightly peated with notes of heather. US retail prices between $1300-$1600 are common. True, as Dave Broom, points out, each whisky is the product of a unique production and maturation process. Suntory have run out of aged statement Japanese whisky so the whole world is stocking up preparing for the impending apocalypse. Chita grain whisky provides a smooth core, while Hakushu and Yamazaki add balance and layers. Then add the Hibiki Harmony. If you are going to spend $95 for a Hibiki Harmony, try Fuji single grain, it is very good. Your email address will not be published. As with Hibiki 17 and up, the Mizunara cask impact is greater than on the 18 than the 12, with loads of sandalwood that stay with you from nosing to the finish. This contrasts with the Yamazaki () malt portion. Cant find your favorite Japanese whisky? The two industry giants, Suntory and Nikka, seriously cut back production to survive. Its an award-winner with a price tag of around $400-$500. On the palate, there is dried fruit, blackberry and strawberry jam, with expresso and bittersweet chocolate, along with cinnamon, allspice and clove. Hibiki 21 is one of the worlds most sought-after blended whiskies. But, beware: The Monochromatic Joker is one of the most heavily-faked bottles out there, so some due diligence is required!, Ah yes! Hibiki 17 is among the most-awarded Japnaese whiskies ever. If you prefer sweeter syrup, use a 2:1 ratio of honey to water. Scanning Wine-Searcher, a few shops are charging $150. Suntory designed Toki to do one thing extraordinarily well: mix in highballs. Over the last decade demand for Japanese whisky around the world has exploded. Demand is so high that bottles are scarce and prices start around $1400 US. Dave Broom has been writing, teaching and speaking about spirits for over 30 years and is the author of The World Atlas of Whisky. This is particularly unique because there are two versions of this bottle,Ganapathi says. The first of Suntorys whisky to get the axe Hibiki 12 was discontinued in 2015, so despite its status as the youngest of the lines age-statement collection, its no easier to track down than its older siblings. But I have a couple of recommendations. Stills have been added to both the Yamazaki and Hakushu sites and the companys Ohmi Aging Cellar has undergone a large expansion. Again, this was discontinued and replaced by an older bottling: the 12 Year Old. The risk of investing in this prestigious Japanese whisky is that Suntory will eventually meet the demand. So be patient and dont overpay. If you use smaller ice cubes, it will lead to a more watered-down and light-tasting Hibiki. The expression, called Suntory Shirofuda, tasted too much like Scotch too peaty, too powerful. Absolutely Hibiki Japanese Harmony whisky is held in high esteem in the world of whisky. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Critic tasting note: "Deep layers of vanilla and mizunara oak with sugar sprinkled pastries, incense sticks, oiled wood, tatami, dried apricot, golden sultana, and faint smoky spiciness. Suntory and Nikka received numerous international whisky awards. The core range previously included the Hibiki 12 Year-Old, which was sadly discontinued in 2015, before the no-age Hibiki Harmony was introduced. US prices start around $300, with some places charging close to double. I love Old Fashioneds made with Hibiki Harmony. Its finish is more drawn out, and the sweet and bright notes you get at first sip with Harmony and the 12 dont show up as quickly. Thats a cost range of 25-15%. Its part review with tasting notes, similar whiskies, and product info. On the nose, there is vanilla and red fruits, along with apricot jam, dried fruit and marmalade. In 1929, Torii hired Masataka Taketsuru to create the worlds first Japanese whisky. Charles MacLean is the author of 17 books about Scotch, including Scotch Whisky: A Liquid History (which was nominated Best Wine & Spirits Book in the James Beard Awards 2005). Founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii, Suntory () started out as a wine shop, but soon turned into a wine producer when they released Akadama . Hibiki 17 is most known for the flavors exhibited by the whisky aged in ultra-rare Mizunara oak barrels, a maturation process developed in Japan said to imbue the booze with coconut and sandalwood flavors. Learn more about Suntory whisky with this full-length guide. Learn how your comment data is processed. The latter whisky isnt necessarily better. Yamazaki is devoted to single malt production. It's received significant fanfare since then. Please drink responsibly. . Made almost entirely of whisky that was aged in the golden era of the distillery: the 1960s. Suntory. Now, instead of looking locally, youre searching for retailers nationally. Japanese Harmony leans heavily on its springiness its heavily floral and citrusy on the nose and palate but it lacks some barrel flavors like vanilla, maple and wood spice until the finish. First, chill the Hibiki and the glass in the freezer. Im a huge fan of Hibiki whiskies, but have mixed feelings about the price of Hibiki Harmony. For the moment, let's raise a glass to the timeless Hibiki expression. And some shady retailers are charging a lot more. The quality of Japanese whisky remained high. The 18-year-old expression nails the same profile as the 12-year-old, but the order is reversed. But it may sell out quickly. Hibiki 12: Where To Find It In The Philippines A Penicillin is a modern cocktail with a medicinal flavor. When a Westerner thinks of Japanese whisky, they think of names under the House of Suntory. The first of two U.S.-distributed Hakushu offerings, 12 offers up what the Hakushu lines deep green bottle promises: freshness. Huge retailers like Total Wine, Binnys, BevMo, and Costco are reliable sources for this blended whisky. The finish is long and complex, with flavors of dried fruit, spices and some lingering raspberry and blueberry notes. And there are also a few Scotch whiskies worth considering too. In addition, over 80% of all Scottish whisky exports under three years of age go to Japan. Casks of whisky at a storehouse of Suntory Liquors' Hakushu distillery in Hokuto City, Yamanashi [+] prefecture. SRP: $150Street Price: $450-$600Year Introduced: 1989Production: Discontinued. The discontinuation of Hibiki 17 was perhaps the biggest Japanese whisky news of 2018, and for good reason. And because cash flow is important at these stores, they usually dont price gouge. The 18-year-old channels the 12-year-old bottles freshness, and goes deeper. This is likely to be the youngest component of the blend. The result has been skyrocketing prices and acute shortages. The Hibiki includes malt from Yamazaki, but it has more depth and balance. Blue cheese is especially delicious. But make sure to factor in the cost of shipping. Hibiki whisky is one of the most popular premium blended ranges to come out of Japan. Forwarning: you will (likely) never drink this expression. That comes down to personal preference. Some markets are more expensive than others. He resides in The Netherlands and in South Carolina. And thats because it makes whisky a better complement to a meal. It operates three whisky distilleries across Japan Yamazaki Distillery, Hakushu Distillery, Chita Distillery each with its own purpose and flair. Johnny Walker Blue only costs about $200 retail in the US. Get it from my Etsy store for only $23 plus shipping. So its nice to see this bottle appreciated for what it truly isa work of art. Check out the retailers below. Suntory wont say much about the ages of the component whiskies. So they made what has since become the most popular whisky Japan: Suntory Kakubin. Here, Nate lists his top 20 picks. Just a few weeks prior, I wrote on the. So much so that Suntory doesnt bother with an MSRP (in the US). And retailers are charging an arm and a leg for the Hibiki 21 thats available. The bulk of Hibiki comes from the Chita Distillery () in Aichi. Suntory to discontinue Hibiki 17 and Hakushu 12 And deals can be very hard to find. And in 2018, Hibiki 17 and Hakushu 12 became the next marquee whiskies to get 86d. The third of the three Suntory distilleries. The Port Charlotte 16, however, is probably more difficult to get than Yoichi. . A lot of people are asking this question. But I think that Harmony is a blend of 5-20 year-aged whiskies, averaging less than ten years. Because there wasnt enough stock to meet demand. Yamazaki 12-Year-Old Japanese Whisky: Why Pricing Has Gone Through The Whisky nuts will tell you that this was the best time for the Islay distillery in terms of production value and its hard to disagree. If youre interested in Japanese whisky history, check out this article. And the grain whisky is made at Chita. But the crazy price increases will probably level out slightly. That's a great deal! As the NAS whiskymovement grows, producers can experiment and bring togetheryounger vintages and flavors. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. To this day, it remains one of the most well balanced Japanese whiskies ever created., This is a prime example of a very cool one-off,Ganapathi says. But its also a crapshoot. Between 1990 and 2000, Japanese whisky distilleries were getting wrecked. On the nose, it has the same dried fruit sweetness, along with more pronounced coffee and dark chocolate notes. Master Select has a lot more fruity Yamazaki malt and Sherry cask influence. Japanese whisky has been in high demand for about a decade. But it is the replacement for the discontinued Hibiki 12. But Hibiki Harmony has a gingery, incensed, and fruity flavor that works. Oh, no! For a 1.5-ounce pour, a bar program selling Hibiki Harmony will likely charge between $18.88 and $31.47.