The Japanese Harmony is the non-age-stated addition to the core range from Hibiki. The whisky has been created by Shingo Torii and Shinji Fukuyo, Master Blender and Chief Blender respectively at the brand’s owners The House of Suntory. They have used the same whiskies that were in the original version of the Hibiki blend first released in 1989. The pair have used single grain whisky from The House of Suntory’s Chita grain distillery plus malts from their Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries. These have been matured in a combination of American white oak, Mizunara oak and ex-sherry casks.
As mentioned, Hibiki (pronounced hee-bee-kee and meaning ‘echo’ in Japanese) was first introduced in the late 1980s and has grown to be one of the most highly awarded Japanese blended whisky with a multitude of prizes gathered from around the globe. The range of products has expanded following the boom of interest in Japanese whisky in the 2010s and currently includes this expression alongside limited edition versions of Japanese Harmony plus age stated expressions at 21 and 30 and 40 years of age. Previously released bottles of 12 and 17 years old are still readily available.
Japanese Harmony was initially launched in 2014 in Australia then other major markets in 2015. The UK launch saw the brand build a pop-up experience named the Harmony Bar in central London, which educated consumers about Japanese whisky and Hibiki in particular (pictured, above). It is bottled at 43% ABV and has a retail price of around £80.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is golden yellow and the nose has an immediate floral freshness and sweetness to it. There are are aromas of golden syrup, peach, orange blossom and bold, warming wood spice (especially cinnamon and mace). Underneath are further aromas of white chocolate, sultana and honey plus hints of damp earth and white pepper.
On the palate, the freshness from the nose is evident. There are sweet and spicy characteristics mingling with each other – think of golden syrup and white chocolate paired with plenty of cinnamon, oak and all-spice. As these soften a lovely juicy fruitiness begins to come through. There are notes of white peach, apricot, sultana and a hint of mango, which sit very nicely with the sweet and spicy elements. With time some tangy lemon zest develops and there are background notes of ginger, milky coffee and soft tobacco-like earthiness, which give the whisky some umami and a pleasant bitterness.
The finish is of moderate intensity, refreshing and clean. There are some lovely milky coffee and milk chocolate notes that come through and combine superbly with the elegant spices and vibrant dried mango fruitiness. The combination works well.
What’s The Verdict?
The excitement for Japanese whisky endures after its boom in the mid-2010s after winning some major awards and adulation. Japanese Harmony has become a staple across the international whisky market and the unique bottle and packaging that accompanies this expression has itself become iconic. We first tasted this at the launch in 2015 and found it to be the perfect introduction to Japanese whisky because of the lovely combination between sweet, fruit and spice. Now, almost 10 years later our opinion has not changed – it is a classic.
