Another whiskey today, and it is a very unique, and very tasty, Japanese whiskey. The Hibiki Japanese Harmony from Suntory Whisky is a much different whisky from the majority of the whiskeys I have had. As with most, if not all, of the whiskeys I buy, I picked up this bottle at Total Beverage in Thornton. It is on the shelf at $69.99, unless you have a frequent shopper card with them, then it is $66.99.
Starting off, the nose of the Harmony has sweet oak and floral notes. Wood and roses come to mind. Right up front on the palate, there is a citrus sweetness, like candied oranges, that gives way into a white chocolate mid-palate. The finish lingers for quite a while with the unique flavors of the oak, and a little bit of smoke almost like you would expect from a Scotch. The Mizunara, which is a Japanese oak, is what gave this whisky such a different, unique flavor from anything else I had tried. When you add a bit of water, the sweetness comes out more and comes across the entire palate, but it changes a little more of a honey type sweetness, and takes down the citrus sweetness. The finish gets a little more sweet as well, but there is still the hint of smoke on the end as well. Overall I give this an 86 out of 100, delicious and unique.
This is the first Japanese whisky I have ever had, and it is delicious. Super unique, and I can’t wait to get more and try them.
