Hibiki Blender's Choice

Hibiki is recognized as the finest blended whisky globally, with its 21-year-old expression consistently receiving accolades. When I tried that expression, I genuinely believed it was the best blend I’d ever encountered, though it wasn’t drastically different from their 17-year-old. Now, the 17-year-old is unavailable (at least temporarily), and Suntory has introduced this “Blender’s Choice,” an age-statement-free bottling featuring “their rarest whiskies, some matured in red wine casks.” Bottled at 43% ABV, it has a golden hue. On the nose, it’s all about grapefruits and fresh gooseberries – a lovely aroma of fresh citrus orchard fruits is how this whisky begins. Red fruits, agave, and tequila notes are present at the edges of the glass. Thick orange candy has emerged. Plenty of incredibly fresh, appealing fruits. Peaches. After three minutes, a delightful milk chocolate note rises. Marshmallows and some fruity spice appear. The aroma is exceptionally well-crafted, primarily citrusy and syrupy. On the palate, it starts with peach syrup, followed by a mild spiciness. Some grapefruit emerges; it’s very easy to drink. A second taste revealed dried apricots and a hint of saltiness. I’ve been holding it for so long that I’m actually writing this while it’s in my mouth – it’s that easy to drink, though not overly complex. A third taste brought out gooseberries. It has a sugary and hay-like finish. Very thick and rounded. The alcohol strength is pleasant, neither too strong nor too weak. A second sip introduced a tobacco note, with some subtle earthy undertones. Ginger. Hints of ash and peaty characteristics. Everything feels cohesive. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable whisky that can be shared with any enthusiast or novice, and they will appreciate it. It lacks significant complexity, with the spectacular nose receiving the majority of the credit here. It’s not the best Hibiki, nor is it superior to the 17-year-old. It seems this replacement satisfies the regular clientele, but it could certainly be improved. My rating is 90 out of 100.

A companion acquired this bottle for me in Japan, and it's delightful, offering dark tasting notes like berries, cherries, cherrywood, floral hints, toffee, dark chocolate, and white chocolate, with bright raspberries and lychee on the palate. This might serve better as a replacement for the 12-year-old rather than the 17-year-old, as it's aged 12-30 years like the old 12, but an average age of 15 here would make it hard to call it a 12-year-old. It's superior to the 12, but I'm unsure if it surpasses the 17; I'll need to taste them side-by-side to confirm.

The flavors of this sample, a gift from a friend, brought to mind one of the many summer delights I missed this year: the occasional lunch break indulgence at the Belgian waffle stand in the small park near my office. The toasty, creamy, ginger notes are reminiscent of their waffles and speculoos ice cream. A pleasant, gentle dram for a warm autumn evening.

Wood is present on the nose and the palate, with a deep and rich flavor. It spreads very smoothly, with abundant fruit at the start. Berries. Exceptionally fruity with light wood notes, and no harshness at all. It tastes like a creamy berry whiskey.

Hibiki Blender's Choice meets expectations, but the pricing is no longer sensible. The Master's Select was a better value, and I personally favored it more as well.

The aroma is sweet, with a touch of floral. Tastes like caramel and vanilla sweetness that transitions into a subtly citrus flavor. The finish is medium and sweet. There's a slight smokiness throughout. Wonderful.