Product description
Hibiki blend was created by Koichi Inatomi (better known as Dr. Inatomi), Suntory legendary master blender.
The whisky was launched on April 3, 1989 to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Suntory Company. In his creation Dr. Inatomi used various malts from Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries and grain whisky from Chita Distillery. The components were aged mainly in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks with a little addition of Mizunara oak casks. In the new millennium Hibiki 17 years old gained cult status but in 2018 Suntory was forced to withdraw it from the range due to “supply constrains of certain aged whiskies”. In the upcoming years we can only expect few limited releases. The word “Hibiki” translates from Japanese to “resonance” or “echo”.
Nose: very elegant, toffee, honey, cocoa powder, hazelnuts, orange marmalade, hints of leather and sandalwood, touches of candle wax and oak char.
Palate: rich, honey, toffee, orange peel, nectarines, mixed nuts and almonds, banana bread, raisins, hints of pepper and ginger and subtle oaky bitterness.
Finish: long, with notes of honey, cinnamon, dark chocolate, dried fruit, hazelnuts, oak and fading hints of smoke.