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A fantastic Japanese blend, made with aged malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s three distilleries. Spicy and sophisticated, this is great for catching people out at blind tastings. Recently awarded a Gold ‘Editor’s Choice’ award from Whisky Magazine and picked up the top prize in its category at the World Whisky Awards 2010.
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Suntory Hibiki 17 Year Old Review:
Lightly Wooded Nose. Dark cherry, coffee, and corn mash.
Taste is fantastic! Leather, spice, and honey. The first mouthful gives you an overwhelmingly cinnamon mixture. However it soon gives way to a very fresh rendition of the Japanese Hibiki 16. The 16 year old Hibiki is one of the very best blended scotches on the market. The 17 year old is not far behind it’s sibling and the two are certainly neck and neck.
This is a very different experience than the 16 year old Hibiki. This one is better. But it does not beat the 16 year old. There is a balance here of flavour and strength and the 17 year old Hibiki is a fantastic whiskey. Newbies may be drawn into thinking this is a sweet blend, but the straight grain whiskies and malty base deliver a firm punch and a flavour that is different and unique. This is, quite simply, a fantastic blended whisky.
A few years ago I made the following video which looked at a number of blended Scotch whiskies. This is a perfect video to watch in order to see some of the whiskies I mention in this fantastic review: Watch: The Scotch Blended Whiskies Review
The finish is quite short, but flavourful. A great blend and still only $35.00 USD a bottle! That’s a bargain, in my opinion. The 16 year old is still a great blend and, based on my review of the 17 year old, I don’t think the 17 year old leaves much room for improvement. If you like Japanese whiskies and want a delicious blend check this one out. Hibiki 17 Review
Hibiki 17 Review:
Nose: Steely and a little tannic. The nose seems to be a little dried out. There is also a little heat or heat stroke evident. (Ambien) Burnt wood and crushed nuts appear.
Taste: The flavour is strong. There is a dark berry fruit mix with hints of plum. There is a little heat, which is quite prevalent after some water added. The finish is, obviously, tannic.
Nose: Steely and a little tannic. The nose seems to be a little dried out. There is also a little heat or heat stroke evident. Burnt wood and crushed nuts appear. Taste: The flavour is strong. There is a dark berry fruit mix with hints of plum. There is a little heat, which is quite prevalent after some water added. The finish is, obviously, tannic.
The Destilados Blog has a review of Hibiki 17 that matches my review exactly. The Destilados Blog does not reveal their own ratings, so if you want to find out what the Destilados Blog thinks about it check out their review. The Destilados Blog is also celebrating Donald C. Skea’s birthday today and I wanted to shout them out. Destilados Blog Comments
A wonderful whisky. Hints of a fruit-to-wood syrup accord dominate the nose with a pleasing balminess. The palate explodes with fruit and spice. A stunning, tannic finish. The finish is extremely short, the fruit notes lingering for only a few seconds before fading to a sharp and perfumed. You’ve seen everything before but probably never like it.
Hibiki 17 Review:
Nose: Spices are lively, really lively, noticable caramel and cinnamon, and nice notes of oak. Some leather and some cocoa, but all in all it’s a nice nose. Sometimes it gets a tad hot for my tastes, but I’d put that down to aging. Palate: The palate is a warm, sweet, and full of flavors to match the nose. Some dark fruits in the form of cherries and plums are present, and there’s some sort of spices, probably nutmeg, cinnamon, and maybe even clove. The sweetness is there, and it’s fairly pronounced, but it is more of a rich sweetness without being super sugary, like some other whiskies on the market. Again, I wouldn’t put this down to aging; the drink tastes too young.
Finish: The finish is short, and it’s a bit tannic, but it’s not biting or harsh at all. It has a little fruit, but it’s not candy-like or cloying. I’d put the finish down to only modest aging. Overall: I’ve been enjoying Suntory’s Hibiki 17 for quite a while now, and I’ve finally hit a level of appreciation that I’ve had for it in the past, so I feel comfortable taking out the time to write this review. I would recommend everyone give the Hibiki a shot.
I personally love scotches, and I’m not the only one, as evidenced by all the great reviews that this whisky has received. I think Hibiki 17 is a great whisky that isn’t going to break the bank as it’s around $35 here in the US.
Tight, dark aromas, with notes of caramel and brown sugar. Expressive silky textures and flavors, with bright notes of citrus like lemons and limes. Dry and earthy palate with dark aromas. Slightly sweet aftertaste, with caramel-like and bitter notes. A refreshing entry, with stylish, toned-down notes of ‘pearled barley, toasted oak, and Indian allspice’.
Hibiki 17 Review:
The nose is a little more conservative than the more famous 16 year old, but it’s splendid. I certainly wouldn’t turn my nose up at this stuff, and it’s definitely got to compete. A great double blended whiskey, there’s plenty to love, and I find it’s got a nice amount of the famous Hibiki 16 taste. I loved the 17 year old, and I think the price is fair, avaiable in the US. The 17 year old is about $40.00 US. It’s a fantastic all-day single malt, and a fantastic blend, but there is something special about the 16 year old. I’ve been enjoying it for about 16 years now.
The nose is a little more conservative than the more famous 16 year old, but it’s splendid. I certainly wouldn’t turn my nose up at this stuff, and it’s definitely got to compete. A great double blended whiskey , there’s plenty to love, and I find it’s got a nice amount of the famous Hibiki 16 taste. I loved the 17 year old , and I think the price is fair here in the United States. The 17 year old is about $40.00 USD. It’s a fantastic all-day single malt , and a fantastic blend, but there is something special about the 16 year old . I’ve been enjoying it for about 16 years now.
