Tasting Notes

Producing WhiskyCast has given me the opportunity to taste some really amazing whiskies, and I’m pleased to share my tasting notes with you here. You can search my entire database of tasting notes from this page, and I hope you’ll find it useful.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Country: Japan

Region:

Type: Blended Japanese Whisky

Bottler: Suntory

ABV: 43%

Score: 92 Points

Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony. Photo ©2015 by Mark Gillespie. This no-age-statement blend from Suntory uses Chita grain whisky matured in smaller casks at warmer temperatures to speed up the maturation, along with older malts matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and Japanese Mizunara Oak casks.

The result is a whisky with a complex nose full of banana, coconut, sandalwood, rosemary, rose petals, vanilla, and a slight kiss of smoke. The taste starts off fruity and mouth-watering with subtle cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, and touches of rosemary, cedar, and honey before turning drier leading into the finish, which is long and smooth with lingering notes of cinnamon, sandalwood, coconut, and tropical touches of kiwi fruit and grilled pineapple. Very complex and interesting! (June, 2015)