Hibiki Harmony Japanese Harmony Master's Select

This is a special edition available in travel retail, from the classic and well-liked hibiki harmony. This dram is very different from the standard Japanese harmony. It's very easy to drink and delicious. You could finish the whole bottle without even noticing. The primary distinction between the two is sherry. Bottled at 43% ABV, tawny color. The aroma is reminiscent of Glendronach 12. I can't describe it better. It has sherry, vanilla custard cream, and vanilla cookies (like those used for making a cake base). After a few minutes, a citrus note emerges, like lemon peel and perhaps prunes. The taste is very pleasant and easy, with well-balanced sherry, oak, almonds, oranges, vanilla, and allspice. The aftertaste is medium long and very sweet, with cinnamon and vanilla notes. Balance is key here. It's not the absolute best dram ever, and I struggled to decide between a 4.0 or 4.5 rating, but its balance earned it the 90 points, making it a highly recommended whisky. 90 /100, nice dram. (However, the original Japanese harmony is superior and less expensive).

Aroma: Tropical fruits like mango and pineapple, honey, floral notes, and sweet vanilla. Palate: Sweet milk chocolate, mango, pineapple, honey, tangerine, and just a hint of smoke. Finish: Low burn on the top of the tongue, soft, delicate, round with a short finish. A fantastic whisky, with good complexity and exciting flavors. Very welcoming initially with a slight burn on the tongue when swallowing. A delicious whisky, its only drawback is the brief finish. A longer finish would significantly elevate this, but overall very pleasant.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select Blended Whisky Origin: Japan Volume: 700ml Alcohol Content: 43% Product Description: Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select is a blend of at least 10 malt and grain whiskies, aged in 5 different types of casks. Under the supervision of the third-generation blender and founder's great-grandson, SHINGO TORII, and cultivated by the fourth-generation chief blender SHINJI FUKUYO, it achieves a noble and harmonious subtle Yamazaki sherry cask character. It incorporates over 10 original spirits from the Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries, including the world-renowned Yamazaki sherry cask whisky. The bottle's distinctive 24-faceted design is inspired by the concept of the 24 solar terms, and the label uses understated Echizen washi paper printed with the calligraphic character 'Hibiki,' penned by the renowned Japanese calligrapher TANSEN OGINO. This conveys the worldview of Japanese whisky. Hibiki's chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo, envisioned a harmony of taste and aroma – one that is pure, complex, yet harmonious. This is the core concept of Hibiki blending. Aroma: young oak notes, sawdust, vanilla bean, syrup, shredded coconut, cream, ripe apple, subtle sandalwood. Taste: comfortable and sweet on the palate, with notes of coconut liqueur, green tea, and matcha. Finish: medium to long, harmoniously leaving a fresh oak taste.

The standard Hibiki Harmony is among my top Japanese whiskies, and despite recent price increases, it remains a quality choice for its cost. The Master’s Select elevates the experience with a more floral, rose-petal-like nose and a palate exhibiting a more pronounced sherry influence than the standard Harmony. It's a delicate and well-balanced spirit. I regret its limited availability in travel retail, wishing it were accessible in 750 ml bottles domestically.

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask is quite significant here. It features 10 distinct single malt and grain whiskey combinations. American, Mizunara, and Sherry Cask types are employed in this blend. The aroma is my preference, very floral, with notes of raisins, zest, tropical fruitiness, and vanilla. The taste is lovely, with chocolate and orange marmalade followed by a little baking spice. There is some bitterness before the finish, which then includes sweet oakiness and spices in a medium-short finish.

Appearance: amber -1, low viscosity Smell: honey, vanilla, toffee, tangerines, plums, mango, pineapple, damp oak Taste: mild spicy fruity arrival, oily, sweet (honey, creamy vanilla, toffee), fruity (tangerines, mango, pineapple, sultanas, plums), damp oak Finish: short duration, sweet-fruity aftertaste (subtle and refined) Comments: a gentle dram, refined and delicious. I'm not usually a fan of blended whiskies, but this one is GREAT!