Hibiki Japanese Harmony [Re-Review]

Thanks to my buddy John for sharing a dram of this one.

Hibiki 30… is not being reviewed today. It is the Hibiki white whale that I search for.

Wait, that seems familiar. Let’s go a different route.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a blended malt from Hibiki meant to mimic music, with high and low notes, made with whisky from Yamazaki, Hakushu, and (grain from) Chita distilleries. Man gotta try some Chita…

Wait a second, I’ve reviewed this before!

So since I reviewed this last, I’ve completely forgotten I had. Friends have asked about it, I’ve passed along other reviewers, and was excited when it was in the lineup.

Until I re-read my old review. Seemingly I’ve had this. But there’s a question of changing taste buds and thoughts on different batches affecting taste. I typically pride myself on not too much of a change, however, maybe that pride is coming right before my fall.

Who knows, who cares, how does it taste this time? Let’s see, shall we?

Price: $119.95 CAD at the LCBO

Region: Japan

Cask Types: American White Oak, Sherry, & Mizunara Casks

Abv: 43%

Colour: 5Y 9/8

Nose: Lilac, plum, honey, cotton

Nice perfume and fruit with fruit and various other linen/floral/fruit notes. Doing laundry? Got a whisky for that. Personally I enjoy that profile so I’m good.

Taste: Caramel, banana, floral, cinnamon

Simpler caramel, some banana and a continuation of more floral. Very light. I’m not getting those high notes or particular low notes. We’re not talking Type O Negative here, we’re talking Franky Valley. But on his off days.

Finish: Cinnamon, grain, cotton, caramel Floral, cereal, linen, and caramel. Simple, sweet. Certainly the nicest of the Japanese whiskies we’ve had. I can see why someone enjoys it, but I’m a jaded prick. I mean… yeah, a jaded price.

Conclusion: Certainly interesting, but still comes off as too weak for me. Last time I had this it wasn’t from a fresh bottle, and time certainly did it some favours.

Assuming I ignore the past, as I had before, this is a nice entry-level whisky. It’s not as good as the 12, doesn’t come close to better Japanese whiskies, and I’d still say you’re better off saving up more to have better.

That all said: There are some people out there who really, really want to try Japanese whisky. And if they had to be stuck with a bottle, better this over the last two we had.

66/100

World Whisky review #384, Japan review #43, Whisky Network review #1827