Hibiki Harmony arrived to markets replacing the 12 Yr old variety. As a no-age statement whisky, it could be made available to a broader audience, it resides in turmoil with endless comparisons for the whisky it replaced. Removing age statements gives producers flexibility making whisky (how is it that 12 years are the minimum age inside the bottle?), it also creates a sense of distrust with the consumer acquainted with going to a number around the bottle.
Harmony is softer, gentler, and will be offering a quieter complexity when compared to discontinued 12 years old. You'll find whiskies which can be had best in a loud crowd, and whiskies you'll relish most with a small number of of friends. Harmony is often a singular experience. It does not take whisky that carries a lot to express, but speaks quietly. Sure, it is not Hibiki 12, but it is quite possible that it has more to provide.
What's within the whisky?
Hibiki may be the high-end blended brand from Beam Suntory. Hibiki 17 and 21 year old are beautiful whiskies, along with the 21 is one of the best whiskies I've tasted. All Hibiki releases are a blend of malted barley and grain whisky, with many kinds of oak used. This can be a combination of malt from Yamazaki, Hakashu, and Chita whisky (mostly corn whisky). In terms of barrels used, there's American oak, some sherry oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak.
While blended whisky gets a bad reputation, and Hibiki makes an effort never to market itself as such, it is really an instance of why blended whiskies should not be ignored.
Nose: Notes of the vanilla-citrus terrine. Wonderful caramel sweetness mixed with bright orange zest, joined with heavier toasted spice notes. A traditional oaky spice gets control the nose following a time, and that will give you something unique. It's buttery, features a touch of char, nice vanilla, some candied ginger combined with a combination. A variety of vanilla citrus finishes off of the nose as time passes.
Palate: An attractive spread of oak tannins, vanilla sweetness, sharp pepper spice, along with a buttery finish. Honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg come through nicely. It's sharper around the palate than on the nose. The conclusion is gentle, and heavier on a blend of buttery-sweet and cinnamon spice.
Conclusion: The nose does wonders, and also the palate is a touch more ordinary, but overall the top Hibiki you can actually buy in the marketplace. It's priced well in a market the location where the supply and demand chart for Japanese whisky is out-of-this-world.
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