![]() ![]() Hibiki Blossom Harmony Blended Whisky is aged in white oak barrels for more than 10 years before it goes through several more years of aging in sakura wood casks. The House of Suntory Whisky’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries provide the diverse matured malt and grains that go into Hibiki whiskies. It is this special relationship – harmony – that inspired me to create this blend.” “There have been many experiments with malt and grain whisky components, and we found that there was a special alchemy between the grain whiskies and the Sakura cask. “I have been mesmerized by the Sakura cask for the last five years now due to its symbolism, but also because of its distinctive, subtly floral and spicy aroma and flavor notes,” said fifth-generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo in a prepared statement. The Sakura is Japan’s unofficial national flower and the Sakura blossom season in early Spring is a meaningful event for the Japanese people and has delighted those eager to see the delicate flowers welcome the coming of warmer weather for over 1000 years. Hibiki Blossom Harmony’s unique bottle design has 24 facets encircling the bottle, with each facet connecting to the next in a natural harmony. Hibiki, meaning “resonance” or “echo” in Japanese, is said to encapsulate the philosophy of The House of Suntory, which is ‘To Create Harmony with People and Nature.’ Torii was a pioneering whisky maker whose goal was to create authentic western-style spirits that would appeal to Japanese tastes. Since then The House of Suntory has created what’s considered to be some of the most highly-awarded blended whiskies on the international market as well as some of the most prestigious and honored whiskies in the world. The House of Suntory, which is the founding House of Japanese whisky, was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii when he opened the first official malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki. Since then they’ve continued to produce whisky using their time-honored, traditional Japanese whisky-making craftsmanship. ![]() The Hibiki brand was initially released in 1989 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of The House of Suntory. In October of 2022, Japan’s whisky pioneer, The House of Suntory, announced the release of Hibiki Blossom Harmony Blended Whisky, a limited-edition blended whiskey that’s finished in Sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) casks. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. Find out more here.Editor’s Note: This whisk(e)y was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. The Hibiki Blossom Harmony will see metallic red branding with “a hundred flowers suitable for a celebration” drawn on its label, making it a stellar gift (as it was intended by Suntory) when it finally hits shelves on 25 May at a retail price of 8,000 yen (approximately S$102). ![]() The challenge then has always been to capture the wood’s beguiling essence without overwhelming the palate. Smaller establishments like Kurayoshi Distillery, Mars Shinshu, and Nagahama Distillery have already celebrated the springtime blossom with the experimental wood type. The Kamiki Sakura was the first whisky finished in Japanese sakura wood. After all, unlike Scotch whisky - which is riddled with rules and regulations dictating the different types of wood which you can or cannot mature whisky in - the World Whisky category is given much more freedom to innovate and experiment. This isn’t the first time the country’s best floral export has been used in the industry, but it’ll be a growing trend judging by the characteristically floral notes it imparts on any whisky that’s been matured in it. The limited edition blend is just as beautiful on the palate as you can imagine, with aromas of fresh cherry blossoms bursting through before revealing the whisky’s mellow flavours with a lingering yet refreshing finish. Named Blossom Harmony, the latest Hibiki whisky is aged in sakura wood.Ĭalled the Blossom Harmony, this Hibiki sees its premium blended whisky finished in cherry wood barrels, making it the first ever to be aged in sakura wood. As one of the most popular whisky categories in the world, Japanese whisky - bolstered by both scarcity and high demand - is particularly coveted, especially for collectors.Īfter the loss of big names like Hakushu 12 Year Old and Hibiki 17 Year Old last year, however, Suntory is ready to get back in action with not only a limited edition blend, but a brand new variety that encapsulates the beauty of Japan. ![]()
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