Suntory and Nikka received numerous international whisky awards. Japan. An acute shortage of aged stocks, the result of the combination of rising demand and lower production from roughly 1985 to around 2008, has meant that many Japanese whisky stalwarts have either been discontinued or have become impossible to find. If youve been into Japanese whisky for a while, youll remember that it was somewhat easy to find. Unavailable in the U.S., Yamazaki Distillers Reserve is essentially Yamazaki Light. Please drink responsibly. Made exclusively for the esteemed Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo, this is perhaps the most underrated whisky on this list. Hi Al nara! May 14, 2018 | By Jonathan Ho Blue Label is peatier and isnt influenced by mizunara oak. Ive got a problem. The best way to find a bottle is to search online. A. The Council of Whiskey Masters is home to the leading whisky education and certification programs, opening a systematic career pathway for aspiring and established whisky professionals around the world. The distillery, built in 1934, was located there because of the regions similarity to Scotland. And thats because it makes whisky a better complement to a meal. First, chill the Hibiki and the glass in the freezer. In 2015, Suntory decided to bottle a single grain variant to sell in Japan (it hasnt made it to the States yet). Dave is a Master of the Quaich, a Kentucky Colonel, and was voted 2013 Communicator of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. Please drink responsibly. In my opinion, nothing you can add to Hibiki 21 is going to make it taste better than it does already. 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. Hibiki is a blended whisky featuring malt and grain components. Just expect a considerable markup. A popular 12 Year was released later, followed more recently by Hibiki Harmony. On the nose, there is vanilla and red fruits, along with apricot jam, dried fruit and marmalade. *As an affiliate advertiser for Etsy, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. But Hibiki 17 has way more depth. Then top with a float of Hakushu 12. But Chivas Regal can also be found for half the price of Hibiki Harmony. It depends on who you ask. Or Mortlach 16-year-old, meatier but with great complexity and also sherry matured. But they did not lower the price. But many fake Japanese whiskies are in the same price bracket. In addition, over 80% of all Scottish whisky exports under three years of age go to Japan. And do this before you add the whisky. The Hakushu () malt portion of the Hibiki blend is savory, mildly peaty, and crisp. What the team has done in Louisville, Kentucky, is nothing short of astounding, producing some of the best and most sought after American juice the world has ever seen,Ganapathi says. $95 is a great price. Broom points out however, that in his view: Its impossible (and wrong) to try and estimate how much Scotch is in Japanese whisky. Cant find your favorite Japanese whisky? This is one reason for its elegance and unique perfume. Blue cheese is especially delicious. pour). Below are some recommended online retailers that offer delivery. In October of 2015, the price averaged $500-$600. The focus is on aged expressions which, according to many online retailers and stores in Japan, sell out immediately afterbeing placed on the shelves, both real and virtual. (Check out his account and I have no doubt that youd agree with my assessment.) Hibiki whisky is one of the most popular premium blended ranges to come out of Japan. The last time I bought Hibiki 12 (about eight years ago), it was $60. In the UK, Hibiki Harmony 70cl bottles currently sell from 70-100. And the whisky market could also cool off. Over the course of production, nine batches were created. In this case, that means a spirit with a weighty body, heavy coconut and sandalwood aroma and a balanced sweet- and spice-driven taste profile. Casks of whisky at a storehouse of Suntory Liquors' Hakushu distillery in Hokuto City, Yamanashi [+] prefecture. Suntory pulled the plug on the 12 years aged Hibiki in 2015 and released Japanese Harmony in its place. Its floral, spicy, and smooth. As with most of Suntorys elite whiskies, Hibiki 21 is now rare due to overwhelming demand. . If youre in tune to the world of spirits (and social media), itd be impossible to ignore @SingleMaltDailyan Instagram account and website independently managed by Vancouver-based Nathaniel Ganapathi, who is better known as Nate Gana. A recent feature by the Nikkei Asia Review showcased the huge sales growth Japanese whisky has experienced in the past decade. The Japanese whisky community is pretty opinionated. Look to pay about 1.5 times the initial price of around $1,700 to $2,000. The smoke is heather/potpourri like rather than medicinal. Hibiki 17 Year Old. So it has been a great investment. Long before whisky walls were a ticket to social media followers, Japanese whisky wasnt that popular. The finish is long, with a hint of smoke and a briny note. The distillery has an impressive library of whiskies . Japanese grocery chains are another reliable option. The finish is medium length, with notes of vanilla, eucalyptus, and a little pepperiness. And you can sometimes find it for a reasonable price. Founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii, Suntory () started out as a wine shop, but soon turned into a wine producer when they released Akadama . Its not just the quality of the malt and grain blending components that makes Hibiki 21 so delicious. But it's a reasonable question to ask. But obviously, youre never going to find a 21-year Hibiki for that price. Hibiki Harmony has a color between copper and amber. When I started, I felt that there were all these people taking photos of beautiful bottlesjust in terribly lit environments, which wasnt doing justice to the whiskies. Oh yeah, expect to pay more than double now (around $250) than the price two years ago: around $120., An all-time classic bottle! According to Suntory's PR team, an extra $80 million will be invested this year to expand the Hakushu aging facilities. Express an orange twist over the drink, and use it as a garnish with a cherry. The updated packaging was the result of a rebrand that occurred last year. Sherry casks are a minor component of the Japanese Harmony blend. But using Hibiki Harmony is a delicious alternative. So they dont taste the same side by side. Hibiki Harmony is lighter, more floral, and exotic. *As an affiliate advertiser for Etsy, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. The risk of investing in this prestigious Japanese whisky is that Suntory will eventually meet the demand. The Hibiki () blended whisky series was released in 1989 in a 17 Year and 21 Year Aged forms. The core range previously included the Hibiki 12 Year-Old, which was sadly discontinued in 2015, before the no-age Hibiki Harmony was introduced. And the average retail price starts at around $100 pre-tax. Get it from my Etsy store starting at $28.55 plus shipping. Hibiki 17 or Hibiki 21 expressions are some of the most regarded whiskies, making them a lot tougher to find the bottle. Now, instead of looking locally, youre searching for retailers nationally. Depending on the batch, finding this on the market will run you easily $700 to $800 minimum for a bottle, and sometimes even upwards of $2000. SRP: $85Street Price: $125-$200Year Introduced: 1984Production: Ongoing. Dave Broom has been writing, teaching and speaking about spirits for over 30 years and is the author of The World Atlas of Whisky. US prices start around $300, with some places charging close to double. I enjoy the majority of what Laphroaig puts out. Just because Hibiki Japanese Harmony replaced Hibiki 12-year doesnt mean theyre the same whisky. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But never fear, folks! Would you mix it with Coke?#hibikiwhisky #japanesewhisky #bartenderlife #barhumor #japanesewhiskey. The palate is where Hibiki Japanese Harmony wins over most drinkers. A 750ml of Hibiki 30 costs about $9-$11K per bottle. What follows are the rich, standard markers for Japanese whisky: delicate fruit, light spice and a long, sherry-driven finish. Made almost entirely of whisky that was aged in the golden era of the distillery: the 1960s. Tq. Its even won the Worlds Best Blended Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards a handful of times. There are fruit notes of peach and citrus and a hint of tropical fruits. We are producing as much as possible without compromising the craft. Youll notice a pattern with Suntorys most recent whisky releases: no age statements. But if youre striking out on finding a bottle, youre not alone. Do your best to find the 1981 Feis Ile 2008 release, as it is the only official single cask to be released by this distillery! This is a BETA experience. The 18-year-old expression nails the same profile as the 12-year-old, but the order is reversed. And huge producers like Suntory and Nikka scaled back their production volumes dramatically. Suntory have run out of aged statement Japanese whisky so the whole world is stocking up preparing for the impending apocalypse. Hibiki Whisky Discontinued As Supplies Run Dry From September 2018, insufficient maturation time will mean that the Hibiki 17 will soon be removed from the core range as supplies diminish. And even though theres more Japanese Harmony in its place, it can still be hard to find. Dave Broom: You won't find a Scotch which exactly replicates Yamazaki 18 and before you ask, you won't find a Japanese one either! Hibiki 12 was discontinued in 2015, as were many aged Yoichis and Miyagikyos, among other releases. Oh, no! It has more caramel and dark fruit notes. And neither is better than the other. Suntory designed Toki to do one thing extraordinarily well: mix in highballs. And overall, whisky has faired well as an investment. And fill the glass with ice. The 18-year-old is a sweet non-peated malt that has been matured primarily in American Oak vatted with a smaller portion of malt aged in European aged oak. Dave resides on the south coast of England. The short answer is no, Hibiki 21 is not discontinued. I've got a problem. I never ever liked rye until I met Michters. Dalwhinnie doesnt have any Japanese mizunara oak, however. Hibiki Harmony is delicious and very smooth. In this case, its a significant portion of time spent aging in ex-plum liqueur barrels, a practice other Hibiki bottles dont include. Check them out on Amazon below. Then add the Hibiki Harmony. On the palate, it is smooth and creamy, with sweet notes of dried fruit, along with caramel, fresh cherry and vanilla. It almost moves us to tears. The most popular Japanese single malt in the world was also the first. The same goes for local shops. A Penicillin is a modern cocktail with a medicinal flavor. Prices have increased from around $1000 to $1400 in only a few years. This is particularly unique because there are two versions of this bottle,Ganapathi says. Suntory - Hibiki Blender's Choice I reported the release of the Hibiki Blender's Choice by Suntory several months ago, before its launch in Japan on September 4 th. This is a BETA experience. Steve is a 2015 inductee to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. But I have a couple of recommendations. Why was hibiki discontinued? Reply Josh PetersOctober 26, 2015 The vast bulk of it will be, as it has been since the 1960s, for low-end domestic blends. Avg Price (ex-tax) $ 1,333 / 750ml. And this results in a complex tasting tour de force. Your email address will not be published. So they made what has since become the most popular whisky Japan: Suntory Kakubin. So its ideal for highlighting a smooth and light blended whisky. Required fields are marked *. SRP: $85Street Price: $125-$200Year Introduced: 1994Production: Discontinued. A world renowned Japanese blend, Hibiki 17 Year Old is made with aged malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's distilleries . It has since been replaced by the 12 Year Old. Charles MacLean: The flavour profile and texture of Hibiki 17 is not unlike Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch: Fruity top notes fresh apples and pears; citric lemons, oranges and pineapple give way to butterscotch and black pepper on a biscuit base. Within the Hibiki line, only Japanese Harmony (the sole non-age statement Hibiki expression) remains at or near its listed retail price in the U.S. Its a composite of Chita grain whisky and Yamazaki and Hakushu single malt whiskies, and though Suntory discloses no age information for the whiskies in the Harmony blend, its likely younger than the other offerings under the Hibiki umbrella. *As an affiliate advertiser for Etsy, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. This was a big blow to long-time Japanese whisky enthusiasts. The combination of American, Spanish and Japanese oaks creates a layered, complex whisky, which compliments the fruity backbone that the whisky is known for. And word got out. Your email address will not be published. The discontinuation of Hibiki 17 was perhaps the biggest Japanese whisky news of 2018, and for good reason. 1 vault. Nathaniel Ganapathi (better known as Nate Gana) is. If your favorite Japanese whisky tastes a bit like Scotch, that may be because there is Scotch in the blend. 70cl, 43%. The rise of shochu and the steep drop of whisky consumption in Japan during the 80s saw many producers reduce production output, a move that is costing the whisky world today. And by early 2017, the retail price was an inflated $600-$800 US. But it doesnt end there: The man works with several whisky companies and hosts educational tastings for the likes for Google and Facebook in Californiain addition to Vice in New York City. Its unavailable in U.S. stores, though you could buy this online from a number of sites, but prices are far exaggerated from Kakubins status as a convenience store whisky in its home country. Like Hibiki. And theyre both about the same degree of collectible. Otherwise, a bottle will run you upward of $7,500 in store, or $10,000-plus online. Such a choral piece. The palate is rich and creamy, with flavors of dried fruit, candied orange, cinnamon, a hint of clove. The two industry giants, Suntory and Nikka, seriously cut back production to survive. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Yamazaki 18 is more powerfully fruity and has a velvety texture. Mizuwari, or whisky and water, makes for an even lighter drink. Hakushu 12 was discontinued May of 2018, but it can still be found with a little digging. Since 2013, Suntory has invested over $182 million into ramping up production. True, as Dave Broom, points out, each whisky is the product of a unique production and maturation process. This has created a scarcity of the Suntory Hibiki whiskey, pushing prices up, making it very expensive. A steep price is the biggest downside. Hibiki 30 has more mizunara influence, a darker color, and more spice. SRP: Not Available in the USYear Introduced: 1937Production: Ongoing. Its a good place to start trying Yamazaki, and one that, if you find yourself in Japan, wont break the bank. But the supply of Japanese whisky was limited. The finish has very little heat, as Harmony is only 43% ABV. Then add a little more ice. Learn more about Suntory whisky with this full-length guide. 1 in Japanese) distillery, this bottle delivers beyond the incredibly lofty expectations of typical Japanese whisky. Prices are going up on this one, so look around the $2,000 range. Hibiki Harmony makes a fine highball. It is the only major distillery in Japan that specializes in grain whisky. Let's hope we don't see many other aged Japanese expressions fade away before the whisky in the barrels has come of age. Also, its interesting to note that because of the new production run, the Diageo 2018 Special Releases will not feature either Brora or Port Ellen., WESTLAND LMDW 60th ANNIVERSARY (LA MAISON DU WHISKY), How Westland, an American single malt whiskey distillery out of Seattle, Washington, managed to secure its place in whisky history in less than a decade of being open is beyond mystifying (production started in 2010). Theyre both blended whiskies from prestigious Japanese whisky manufacturers. And at more than 82,000 followers, one could say that hes getting a helluva great start. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A rare unopened bottle of Hibiki 21YR. This is a peated whisky matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The beloved Japanese whiskey popularized by Bill Murray in Lost in Translation will soon be no more, as supply issues have . The entries exceeded the bottle numbers by thousands, leaving many fans disappointed. Doing so will produce a colder drink with less dilution. But make sure to factor in the cost of shipping. There again, no single malt whisky is replicable thats the point. Effectively the second Japanese whisky ever made, its light body and slightly spicy profile were built to mix into a highball and cut through the carbonation just enough. It started out as an $80 bottle in 2003, then I saw this bottle retailing for $1000 in 2016. It's received significant fanfare since then. The Glendullan distillery has been a work horse for the DIAGEO blended scotches such as Johnnie Walker, until the release of the 12YO back in 2007 (I actually helped launch it in Chicago). The Hibiki 17-Year-Old, a famed Japanese whisky by Suntorythat was featured in the 2003 movie Lost In Translation, will be officially discontinued. Its not really quite the same, but the complexity, a factor which makes Yoichi attractive to me, is there. Finally, a bit of peated malt whisky adds heather and saline notes to Hibiki Harmony. If you are going to spend $95 for a Hibiki Harmony, try Fuji single grain, it is very good. Yes. The fact that it is continuously reaching new highs in regards to price points, and that its quality has never ever wavered, people will be thrilled to be able to start collecting new bottlings from this formerly mothballed distillery once production starts again in 2020. Pursuant to SWA rules, only blended Scotch can be exported in bulk. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 3 Reviews. Glad their whiskies are finally available in the US. Just like in stores, prices can be all over the place, so please shop around. 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