Hibiki
The Japanese blend in the 24-faceted bottle, made from dozens of malt and grain whiskies. Everything about the taste, alcohol percentage, how to drink it and the glass that goes with it.
A blend of dozens of whiskies from one house
Hibiki was launched in 1989 by Suntory, the Japanese house that began in 1899 and built Japan's first whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923. 'Hibiki' means resonance or echo, and the name refers to what a blend is meant to do: individual whiskies that become more together than the sum of their parts. The bottle has 24 facets, representing the 24 seasons of the traditional Japanese calendar.
Hibiki Harmony is the standard release and is made from dozens of malt and grain whiskies from Suntory's Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries, matured in five different types of casks including mizunara, Japanese oak. The mizunara gives the whisky a distinctive note of sandalwood and incense. The result is smooth, honey-sweet and elegant, at 43%.
In brief
Hibiki and Suntory's other whiskies
Hibiki is the house blend. These bottles come from the same stable and give you an idea of what else Suntory makes.
Hibiki Harmony
The standard release: dozens of malt and grain whiskies, matured in five types of casks. Honey, candied orange peel and white chocolate.
Hibiki Harmony 100th Anniversary
The same blend in a special bottle for the centenary of Suntory Whisky. A popular gift for collectors.
Suntory Toki
The approachable blend from the same house, made for the highball: grapefruit, green grape, mint and thyme, with vanilla and ginger on the finish.
Suntory The Chita
The single grain from the Chita distillery, which also supplies the grain whisky for Hibiki. Smooth, with grain, honey and spices.
Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve
The single malt from Yamazaki, Japan's oldest whisky distillery and one of the sources for Hibiki. Ripe fruit and Japanese oak.
Harmony is the classic; Toki is the bottle to mix with.
Honey, orange and Japanese oak
Honey & orange
Flower honey, candied orange peel and ripe fruit, with a subtle woody note of mizunara oak behind it.
Soft and rounded
Silky smooth and lightly sweet, with honey, white chocolate and a touch of spice. Never sharp; this is a blend built around elegance.
Long and refined
A long finish with Japanese oak, a hint of sandalwood and a slight bitterness. Just enough to linger.
Flavor profile of Hibiki Harmony. Toki is fresher and more citrus-forward; Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve is fuller and fruitier.
Three ways to drink Hibiki
Hibiki is a whisky to drink neat, but in Japan even an expensive blend goes into a highball. Both ways are correct.
Neat at room temperature
4 cl in a tulip-shaped tasting glass, without ice. Let it stand for a minute and smell it first: the honey and orange peel then come through most clearly.
Glass: tasting glass →As a Japanese highball
40 ml Hibiki in a highball glass filled with ice, topped up with 120 ml ice-cold sparkling water. Stir once from bottom to top and garnish with lemon peel. Light, refreshing and very easy to drink with food.
To the recipe →As mizuwari
One part whisky to two or three parts cold water, over plenty of ice and stirred thirteen times: the Japanese way to drink whisky with a meal. Softer than neat and surprisingly flavorful.
Glass: tumbler →Cocktails with Hibiki
A blend of this caliber disappears quickly in a strong cocktail. These four bring out the honey and fruit notes beautifully.
Japanese Highball
Whisky with ice-cold sparkling water in a tall glass. In Japan, they do this with good whisky too.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, bitters and one large ice cube. More elegant with a Japanese blend than with bourbon.
Whisky Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar and egg white. Hibiki's honeyed note makes the sour rounder.
Manhattan
Whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters. A Japanese blend makes it smoother and fruitier.The right glass for Hibiki
A tulip-shaped tasting glass to bring out the honey and Japanese oak, and a tall long drink glass for the highball. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Hibiki
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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