Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky

In February 1899, Shinjiro Torii opened a store in Osaka, Japan that traded in imported wines. Within a decade, Torii began producing his own sweet grape wine called Akadama Port Wine, which became wildly popular throughout the country. In 1923, Torri — fascinated by whisky his entire life — decided to expand his business and began construction of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first-ever whisky distillery.

Although inspired by traditional Scottish distilleries, Torii envisioned a uniquely Japanese approach to whisky and chose a location for his distillery that offered a climate and terrain that were completely different than those of Scotland. Nestled on the periphery of Kyoto, Yamazaki Distillery is situated at the confluence of three rivers — the Katsura, Uji and Kizu — that provide the warm, damp environment ideal for the production and maturation of whisky.

Fifty years after the construction of Yamazaki Distillery, Keizo Saji inherited his father's vision and constructed Suntory's second distillery. Situated amidst the deep forests of Mount Kaikomagatake in Japan's southern Alps, the Hakushu Distillery enjoys a unique microclimate as a result of being surrounded by nearly 6,000 varieties of plants and thousand-year-old granite rocks.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is crafted from a blend of more than 12 unique grain and malt whiskies produced at Sutnory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. The blend, which was developed by master blender Shingo Torii and chief blender Shinji Fukuyo, is composed of five key styles — Chita grain whiskey, which serves as the “broth,” malt whiskies aged in American oak casks, sherry casks and Mizunara (Japanese Oak) casks, and finally a smoky malt whisky which adds hidden complexity to the blend.

“Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is a blend that reflects the expert craftsmanship and delicate nature of the Japanese, and it is at once pure and complex,” says Suntory. “There is a transparency of taste that allows this whisky to reveal all of its complexities simultaneously.”

As a result of the expert blending, Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky has a slightly floral aroma with additional notes of apricot, orange blossom, marmalade and clove. The palate is dry, with plenty of raisins, honey, pear and cinnamon, and leads to a long, complex finish complete with malt chocolate, oak, pepper, candied apples and a slight hint of smoke.

Each bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky is crafted with 24 facets that represent the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar.

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