Hibiki Suntory Whiskey: Flavors, Craftsmanship, 9 Best Bottles

Hibiki is a highly acclaimed blended whisky brand from the House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whisky. 

Crafted by master blenders who seek to explore the depth and breadth of what “harmony” in a blend can mean — Hibiki whiskies offer complex, multi-layered flavors highly sought by whiskyconnoisseurs around the world. 

The Hibiki whisky bottle design is a work of art, highlighting the brand's commitment to elegance.

Let’s dip into the philosophy and crafting of Hibiki Suntory whiskey, and look at one of its most popular expressions. We’ll also explore a selection of other fine bottles, if you should invest in Hibiki Suntory whiskey, and a great way to invest in whiskey casks. 

A Quick Intro to the Esteemed Hibiki Suntory Whiskey

In 1989, the House of Suntory launched Hibiki to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The Suntory description of Hibiki is “resonance,” and it has been widely regarded as the epitome of the Art of Japanese Whisky — embodying the essence of Japanese nature and its people.

A. Japanese Luxury Inscribed in the Bottle

The Suntory whisky Hibiki is renowned not just for its exceptional taste but also for its exquisite, fluted bottle design. 

Its unique 24-facet design represents the 24 seasons in the traditional Japanese calendar, while the label celebrates each season with exquisite artwork. The bottle's amber color is a nod to the whisky's aging process and its harmonious blend of malt and grain whiskies.

The Hibiki Suntory whisky bottle design perfectly represents the brand's dedication to blending fine craftsmanship with attention to detail.

B. Blending the Hibiki Style

Hibiki is a distinctive blend of numerous malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's portfolio, carefully combined to create a symphony of aromas and flavors.  

This results in an overall Hibiki style typically described as fruity and spicy. 

Here’s a closer look at distilleries that the Suntory whisky blending team draws from to define the Hibiki blends:

1. Yamazaki Distillery

Suntorys Yamazaki Distillery was established by Suntory's founder, Shinjiro Torii, in 1923 and is Japan's first malt whisky distillery. It’s located in the "Minaseno" region, benefiting from a misty climate and soft water ideal for cask aging. 

The diverse temperature and humidity provide the perfect environment for “Suntory Maturation,” the distillery's signature aging process. 

2. Hakushu Distillery

The Hakushu Distillery, established in 1973, is situated in the Japanese Southern Alps, benefiting from soft mountain water and a cool, humid climate. With wooden washbacks and a selection of pot stills and casks, artisanal craftsmen produce single-malt whiskies that reflect the surrounding environment.

3. Chita Distillery

The Chita Distillery, an innovative grain whisky distillery of the House of Suntory, is located in the Chita Peninsula. It is surrounded by hilly terrain and a calm atmosphere from the sea. Unlike most distilleries that produce only one type, Chita creates three types of grain whisky from corn. 

C. Acclaim for Hibiki Suntory

Since its introduction in 1989, Hibiki has become Japan's most highly acclaimed blended whisky.

The 21-Year-Old has been awarded the title of World's Best Blended Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016. The 12-, 17-, and 30-year-old variations have also received numerous gold medals. 

Today, the House of Suntory continues to thrive under the meticulous guidance of Master Blender Shingo Torii, grandson of the founder Shinjiro Torii. 

Next, we’ll explore one of Hibiki’s most popular labels.

The Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky

Hibiki Japanese Harmony is the latest addition to the Hibiki lineup. It has no age statement, giving the brand more flexibility with its maturing spirits, and is now the core of Hibiki's blended whisky collection. 

The Harmony comprises malt whiskies aged in American white oak casks, sherry casks, Mizunara (a rare Japanese oak) barrels, and grain whisky from Suntory's Chita distillery.  

The whisky from the American white oak casks forms a sturdy base, while malt whiskies aged in the Mizunara oak cask and sherry casks add flavor and complexity. Finally, the grain whiskies from Chita act as a broth, bringing together the malt whisky combinations to create a harmonious blend.

While the high quality and price of the Suntory Hibiki Harmony may suggest that it should be consumed neat or with water, it can also be enjoyed on the rocks or as a component in a luxuriously prepared cocktail. 

Want the ultimate Japanese whisky experience? 

Have it with a hand-carved ice ball. 

The ‘Japanese Harmony’ is typically available in these formats:

1. Hibiki 'Japanese Harmony' Blended Whisky, Japan ($105)

The Suntory Hibiki Harmony Whisky comes in a signature 24-faceted bottle representing the changing seasons in Japanese nature. 

The whisky is a delicate and luminous amber color with a complex rosemary, rose, lychee, and sandalwood aroma. Its flavor profile offers a pleasant honey-like sweetness with hints of white chocolate and candied orange peel, while the finish has subtle accents and a lasting touch of Japanese oak on the palate.

2. Hibiki 'Japanese Harmony' Ryusui Hyakka Limited Edition Design Blended ($993) 

The limited edition bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony for 2021 honors the Ryusui-Hyakka (One-Hundred Flowers and Flowing Water) with its design. This motif represents the continual flow of time, featuring the flowers of the twenty-four seasons in Japan, and the dynamic movement of water that connects one season to the next. 

Interested in more collectible Hibiki whiskies? 

7 Other Elegant Hibiki Suntory Whiskies

Here are seven other fine Hibiki Suntory bottles to consider:

• Hibiki 35-Year-Old Arita Kutani Ceramic Decanter
• Hibiki Aritayaki Ceramic Decanter 30-Year-Old
• Hibiki Mount Fuji Limited Edition 21-Year-Old
• Hibiki 21-Year-Old
• Hibiki 17-Year-Old
• Hibiki 12-Year-Old
• Hibiki Blossom Harmony

1. Hibiki 35-Year-Old Arita Kutani Ceramic Decanter ($12,000)

In honor of the 400th anniversary of porcelain in Japan, Suntory collaborated with traditional ceramics producers from Arita and Kutani on Kyushu island to create this exclusive version. 

The Kutani style of Japanese ceramic ware has a unique, colorful, and distinctive feel, developed independently from the more conservative, Chinese-influenced Arita style. Only 150 bottles of each edition were made.

The Hibiki 35 Arita Kutani is a highly acclaimed whisky and hasn't been bottled for several years due to the scarcity of old Japanese whiskies. 

2. Hibiki Aritayaki Ceramic Decanter 30-Year-Old ($19,768)

The Suntory whisky Hibiki 30-Year-Old is an exquisite and highly sought-after blend. This particular edition was bottled in honor of Japan's first ceramic production. The Arita-yaki porcelain decanter is limited to just 100 handcrafted and painted pieces, making it an exceedingly scarce and valuable item for collectors.

3. Hibiki Mount Fuji Limited Edition 21-Year-Old ($3,892)

Described as elegant, sweet, and intricate, this whisky boasts flavors of dried fruit, orange peel, strawberry jam, and baked apple. While it has a smooth and subtle taste, it finishes fairly quickly. With only 2000 bottles ever released, the Mount Fuji Limited Edition is a valuable collector's item.

4. Hibiki 21-Year-Old ($1,496)

This whisky is a perfect choice to savor, with a sweet aroma of crème brûlèe and dried apricots. On the palate, it offers a mix of oak and cigar notes, combined with a hint of peat smoke. It's a well-balanced, complex, and smooth drink.

5. Hibiki 17-Year-Old ($1,143)

The Hibiki 17-Year-Old whiskey offers a symphony of flavors and aromas with honey, vanilla, and oak notes on the nose, and flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice on the palate. The Mizunara oak cask gives a unique flavor profile to the whiskey, with a hint of sandalwood, incense, and Japanese spice. 

6. Hibiki 12-Year-Old ($1,021)

This Hibiki whisky boasts an elegant and soft character, with a complex and fruity nose revealing notes of raspberry, plum, and exotic fruits. On the palate, it’s round, fresh, and deep, expressing flavors of barley, tropical fruits, and caramel. When a little water is added, subtle accents of delicate floral and honey aromas emerge, with a smoky and dry finish. 

7. Hibiki Blossom Harmony ($657)

The Blossom Harmony was developed by the Suntory Whisky blending team from grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask. The end result is an invitation of an enticing floral bouquet, followed by the signature Hibiki depth and complexity of honey, candied orange peel, jasmine, and chocolatey decadence, all climaxing to a surprising finish of bittersweet spicy notes.

Read More: 

• Discover the Finest Single Malt Scotch Whisky to add to your collection.
• Experience the unrivaled Japanese craftsmanship in these Japanese Whiskeys.

Should You Invest in Hibiki Suntory Whiskey?

Hibiki Suntory whiskies offer meticulous Japanese craftsmanship in the quality of the drink and their beautiful bottles (limited edition or not). Add the scarcity factor to the mix, and the Hibiki Suntory is certainly one worth considering for a whisky portfolio. 

In 2014, the Hibiki 12-Year-Old received a double gold award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, garnering popularity. The following year, a Japanese whisky distilled by Suntory won the best whisky in the world, causing a surge in demand for Japanese whisky and Suntory products.

Suntory didn’t anticipate the sudden increase in demand and wasn’t prepared, as they had laid down stocks 12 years prior without knowing how popular the Hibiki 12 would become. 

As the worldwide demand for Japanese whisky continued to surge, the supply of these types of whiskies rapidly decreased. This has made locating the highly sought-after, award-winning bottles with age statements exceedingly challenging.

Consider this: 

In February 2015, a bottle of Hibiki 12 could’ve been purchased for $49 (£39) from Waitrose or Tesco, UK — which is hard to believe given the whisky's current rarity and value!    

Now, what could be better than investing in whiskey bottles?Investing in whiskey casks through Vinovest.

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• If you don’t want to sell your cask, you can opt for bottling and delivery to you.

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