Hibiki Japanese Harmony is Suntory’s flagship blended whisky a blend of at least 10 malt and grain whiskies sourced from all three Suntory distilleries (Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita), matured in five different cask types including Mizunara Japanese oak, and assembled to represent the harmony that the name Hibiki meaning “echo” or “resonance” in Japanese was designed to embody.

Hibiki was created in 1989 to mark Suntory’s 90th anniversary and has since become Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky internationally. The NAS Harmony expression replaced the age-stated Hibiki 12 Year when allocation constraints made that expression untenable the Harmony maintains the same multi-distillery, multi-cask philosophy but draws on a broader range of aged whiskies to compensate for the removal of the age statement. Five cask types contribute distinctly: American white oak adds vanilla and fruit; sherry casks add dark fruit richness; Plum liqueur casks are a uniquely Japanese contribution that adds a delicate Japanese plum sweetness; Mizunara adds the incense and sandalwood character unique to Japanese oak. The Chita grain whisky provides lightness and smoothness that makes Harmony one of the most approachable expressions at this quality level.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rose, lychee, and rosemary with orange peel and subtle sandalwood the multi-cask complexity at full expression
• Palate: Candied orange peel, white chocolate, honey, and a warm Mizunara spice thread
• Finish: Subtle, long-lasting Mizunara character the Japanese oak’s incense note persisting gently

Specs

• Producer: Suntory, Japan
• Style: Japanese Blended Whisky
• Sources: Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries
• Casks: Five types American white oak, sherry, Plum liqueur casks, Mizunara, and others
• Components: 10+ malt and grain whiskies
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse all Japanese whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hibiki mean?

Hibiki () means echo or resonance in Japanese a reference to the way the different distillery and cask characters reverberate together in the final blend rather than asserting individual dominance. The name captures Suntory’s blending philosophy.

What are Plum liqueur casks?

Suntory produces Umeshu (Japanese plum liqueur) using casks that are then repurposed for whisky maturation. The residual plum character in the cask imparts a delicate Japanese plum sweetness to the whisky a cask type unique to Suntory and not found in Scotch or Irish whisky production.

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