I actually like the masters select more than the blenders choice and the blossom. However, the nose on the blossom is amazing. Thanks for doing this one. I been waiting for it for a long time
I went to Japan back in April this year and was able to get some Hibiki 21 for about $600 after conversion (dollar is super strong out there). Got it at a whiskey shop at the Osaka Station! Now to hunt the 30
Totally agree with Dillon about balance and whisky making masterclass. Majority of people only care about single malt oak influence and intensity. It’s easier to taste bolder flavors, but true connoisseurs are able to detect balance and craftsmanship. As always great videos guys 🥃🥃
Dillon is spot on that Hibiki is about balance over power that you might get from a Scotch whisky. In Japan, the NAS goes for about $110 and the Blossom is $200-250 online. One never sees these on the shelves though, Great line up guys!
about the pour, Japanese normally pour with two hands. perhaps it stems from the tea ceremony that they pour with two hands, and eventually even with beers, they would pour with two hands. It may just be an etiquette thing. Hence making the bottles in such a shape that would force you to use two hands while pouring this whiskey
Hibiki is what got me into drinking whisky neat. I was in the UK recently and picked up the Masters Select in duty free at LHR for 67 British Pounds. I'm not sure if it is just more available now or if LHR just had it at an amazing price. I haven't opened it yet but now I'm excited to. Will do my own tasting of Harmony, Masters, and 17. Maybe one day someone will share a dram of 21 or 30. Sounds like an incredible experience!
Great pho king Drinkthrough TM. I have passed on Hibiki Harmony in the past bc of the price point, but it is delicious and has a great nose. Hope I can secure some Blossom and the aged versions.
The Master's Select is special. I'm on my third bottle! The Harmony is just too expensive and I'm not sure if I want to pull the trigger and pay $325 after taxes + shipping.
Great review as always CPU! I’ve been waiting for a Hibiki drink through for a long time. I got the Blenders Choice for the same price as you guys, and I agree. It tastes older, slightly richer, but not 3x-4x better than Harmony. The average age for the Blenders Choice is 15 years, and finished in red wine casks. Nice to have in the collection, but not worth killing yourself for. As a side note, I’m traveling to Mexico later this month. If you buy online and pick up at duty free, you can get Master Select for $92 a bottle if you buy three.
Appreciate the broadcast. Although I do hunt whiskey, bourbon and spirits it's about the taste (experience) and not the hype. Will probably get a pour first before pulling the trigger on a bottle. Living by the airport will need to visit Duty Free shop.
Found Hibiki 21 here in Tokyo the other day for ¥109780 with tax. Came back a few days later and… gone. Also ran into a Hibiki Harmony 2023 and 2022 with the 2022 ¥10000 higher at ¥39800. Hibiki 17 is nowhere to be found. Nov 2023.
Too bad you guys didn't have the H12 finished in umeshu casks. Such a lovely expression. Great video. Huge Japanese whisky guy here and you guys did me proud. Also agreed on the Blenders Choice. The red wine finish isn't my jam. You guys need to find the unicorn H17 50.5 proof NCF. Heard that was pretty epic, along with Mellow and Deep Harmony expressions. Interestingly if you look at the release timing of each of these expressions you can clearly see the experimental journey Suntory went through when deciding when to release these. The recently Blossom was a results of their experiments with their Essence line up blending the Chita finished in sakura casks. Likely due to simply availability to reserve stocks. Like many businesses I think we give them slightly too much credit to their rational & curation behind releasing some of these statements, as I'm sure it was simply market demand and available reserves which played a much larger role. Hence the confusion for their full line. Also Dutch funny you mentioned the Blenders & H17 being so close. In Japan, Suntory discontinued the H17 and released Blenders as its "replacement" around 2018. Although I think their attempts to satisfy customers fell short.
I was searching for a Hibiki review when i landed on you guys, going for the Master select as my first Hibiki, thank you for the almost an hour of absolute knowledge and entertainment!
Interestingly, Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12 are cheaper in the states than in Japan. However the 18 is cheaper in Japan than the US. All of the limited releases are generally slightly cheaper in Japan as well.
I haven’t had Hibiki Japanese Harmony since they dropped the 12 year age statement and severely upped the price. Definitely a must-try for any whisky fan, but you have to start an evening with it. If you start with a scotch and move on to Hibiki it just lacks bite and seems too soft.
Gents, I tip my glass to you guys as always. Ever thought about doing something like this double-blind? One person's gonna have to pour it all though without any of you guys knowing or at least one of you guys do all the pouring and the other two taste. Would love to see how these would hold up without knowing what they are.
I remember paying £150 for Hibiki 21 about 15 years ago, I bought it together with the Yoichi 20 which was also £150. It's a very good whisky tbf but the most I'd pay and have paid for a whisky is £300, I'd never pay anymore than that.
I used to drink japanese whisky when seemingly nobody cared for it. Back then nobody particularly cared for scotch either compared to how its exploded in recent history. I will say that the best of japan has passed and we will never get the quality of whiskies from back then. It was a fun time!
I really should explore Japanese whisky more. I've only bought a few of the Nikkas. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I have had Hibiki Harmony at a bar before, and it is a very good whisky. The only complaint I have with it is that it's too soft. Any idea what time of year the special editions usually hit the shelves? I will agree on the balance point. That's probably why I like Campbeltown scotch so much.
Love the channel and, I enjoy the content. I’ve been watching since the “guild” days … I just wish the “Summer-fruit” and “Stone-fruit” note would be used a bit less….. an apple and a blackberry are very different
More palatable than Yama 18, the Hibiki 21. Yama 18 is delicious but too challenging, the sherry flavor covers all the peach&pineapple etc. Yama 18 Anniversary Mizunara sounds good though. Actually have a chance to buy Umeshu Yamazaki, the plum liquer aged in Yamazaki barrels that's used in Hibiki blends $50-60 though marked up to $400 online @TW Duty Free. I don't think it's worth it as I've had Chita and I'd rather just buy Hibiki Master's (only one bottle a trip). Should I buy it for educational purposes?
My favorite video of all time as a Hibiki lover myself, really appreciate them all being represented. I can get Blender’s Choice from Japan for $130. Do you guys feel like that’s worth the price of admission, as your judgement was based on $299?
Since you love Hibiki, you'll probably enjoy it at least for the academic exercise, and it is probably worth it at that price to try it out. That said, I think we all agreed the Master's Select is the better value.
@@CuriosityPublic thanks! I can’t find the MS under $250, might have to keep looking for the right price. PS my buddy just brought the 21 for me from Japan for $700. I couldn’t say yes to that fast enough
Going to my best friend’s bachelor party in NYC next year and 21 is priced at $799.99; might have to nab it for my old man lol, with Jules willing to spend $1,200.00, would you guys rescore the 92 it got years ago?
I don’t see a value proposition in Japanese. Makes no sense to pay 2x-4x more money for the same quality as a Scotch. Unless you value subtly above all it makes zero sense.
You are paying for the balance and the elegance of the Japanese. Fewer rough edges, and for what edges there are, they are less pronounced. For me personally, I’m not a huge scotch fan, but I could drink Japanese any day of the week.
Great episode. I agree these all emphasize tremendous balance and I'm a huge fan for all of these. But two points though. #1, these are malt blends, and I would hazard that balance may be easier with a wider range of casks to work with than a typical single malt. And #2, bourbon is restricted to new oak, while these products are free to mix new and used oak. Again, maybe easier to achieve great balance. Still great product and great episode. Cheers.
I actually like the masters select more than the blenders choice and the blossom. However, the nose on the blossom is amazing. Thanks for doing this one. I been waiting for it for a long time
Drinkin my regular-ass Hibiki Harmony while you guys drinkthrough the lineup. lol! Definitely a bit jealous, but the Harmony is a fine dram anyways.
I went to Japan back in April this year and was able to get some Hibiki 21 for about $600 after conversion (dollar is super strong out there). Got it at a whiskey shop at the Osaka Station! Now to hunt the 30
I think you got a great deal I just purchased same 21 at 190000 yen im shattered that I could get it at your price
Costco in Torrance, CA has the “21 yr”today for $640.
@pizzainthebox3449 wtf costco in Denver never has these bargain steals
Totally agree with Dillon about balance and whisky making masterclass. Majority of people only care about single malt oak influence and intensity. It’s easier to taste bolder flavors, but true connoisseurs are able to detect balance and craftsmanship. As always great videos guys 🥃🥃
Dillon is spot on that Hibiki is about balance over power that you might get from a Scotch whisky. In Japan, the NAS goes for about $110 and the Blossom is $200-250 online. One never sees these on the shelves though, Great line up guys!
Dillon didn't get the 30 out of his private island bunker?
about the pour, Japanese normally pour with two hands. perhaps it stems from the tea ceremony that they pour with two hands, and eventually even with beers, they would pour with two hands. It may just be an etiquette thing. Hence making the bottles in such a shape that would force you to use two hands while pouring this whiskey
Subscribed. I don’t understand why this channel doesn’t blow up. Great content.
Thank you!
Oh man I've been waiting for this. Great to hear that your thoughts mirrored mine.
There is no channel i follow that deserves drastically more followers! Love your content keep it up
I feel like Dillon had a bit of a narrative in his head coming into this drinkthrough…appreciate y’all doing it!
Hibiki is what got me into drinking whisky neat. I was in the UK recently and picked up the Masters Select in duty free at LHR for 67 British Pounds. I'm not sure if it is just more available now or if LHR just had it at an amazing price. I haven't opened it yet but now I'm excited to. Will do my own tasting of Harmony, Masters, and 17. Maybe one day someone will share a dram of 21 or 30. Sounds like an incredible experience!
Great pho king Drinkthrough TM. I have passed on Hibiki Harmony in the past bc of the price point, but it is delicious and has a great nose. Hope I can secure some Blossom and the aged versions.
The Master's Select is special. I'm on my third bottle! The Harmony is just too expensive and I'm not sure if I want to pull the trigger and pay $325 after taxes + shipping.
The more you watch your reviews of other categories, the more you realize 1. You guys are awesome. 2. Jules doesn’t like bourbon, expect makers 🤣
drinkthroughs are always entertaining, cheers guys
Great review as always CPU! I’ve been waiting for a Hibiki drink through for a long time. I got the Blenders Choice for the same price as you guys, and I agree. It tastes older, slightly richer, but not 3x-4x better than Harmony. The average age for the Blenders Choice is 15 years, and finished in red wine casks. Nice to have in the collection, but not worth killing yourself for.
As a side note, I’m traveling to Mexico later this month. If you buy online and pick up at duty free, you can get Master Select for $92 a bottle if you buy three.
Much appreciated episode. Hopefully you guys can do a Yamazaki episode for the 100th year anniversary.
Perfect timing, leave for Japan Saturday for two weeks.
For relaxing times, make it Suntory time. Six bottles worth of Suntory Time!
You guys should blind old glenmorangie 18 with hibiki 21....I personally think they are very similar but glenmorangie may be slightly more oaked
Love watching you guys and have learned a lot from you! Also love Hibiki and now have to save up for the 21 year.
Appreciate the broadcast. Although I do hunt whiskey, bourbon and spirits it's about the taste (experience) and not the hype. Will probably get a pour first before pulling the trigger on a bottle. Living by the airport will need to visit Duty Free shop.
Found Hibiki 21 here in Tokyo the other day for ¥109780 with tax. Came back a few days later and… gone. Also ran into a Hibiki Harmony 2023 and 2022 with the 2022 ¥10000 higher at ¥39800. Hibiki 17 is nowhere to be found. Nov 2023.
Too bad you guys didn't have the H12 finished in umeshu casks. Such a lovely expression. Great video. Huge Japanese whisky guy here and you guys did me proud. Also agreed on the Blenders Choice. The red wine finish isn't my jam. You guys need to find the unicorn H17 50.5 proof NCF. Heard that was pretty epic, along with Mellow and Deep Harmony expressions.
Interestingly if you look at the release timing of each of these expressions you can clearly see the experimental journey Suntory went through when deciding when to release these. The recently Blossom was a results of their experiments with their Essence line up blending the Chita finished in sakura casks. Likely due to simply availability to reserve stocks. Like many businesses I think we give them slightly too much credit to their rational & curation behind releasing some of these statements, as I'm sure it was simply market demand and available reserves which played a much larger role. Hence the confusion for their full line.
Also Dutch funny you mentioned the Blenders & H17 being so close. In Japan, Suntory discontinued the H17 and released Blenders as its "replacement" around 2018. Although I think their attempts to satisfy customers fell short.
I would kill to try even just mellow and deep harmony. So lucky! I can’t find it anywhere.
@@zerodynamic I’ve got a sample of the Deep I’m saving for a special occasion. Someone did samples about 5 yrs ago. Been holding since.
@@willchinlee whoever gave you those samples must be a great friend!
I was searching for a Hibiki review when i landed on you guys, going for the Master select as my first Hibiki, thank you for the almost an hour of absolute knowledge and entertainment!
Cheers! Hope you enjoy it!
Every Costco visit, I check for Japanese whiskey. Today they have Hibiki Harmony for only $79!!!
Have only tried the regular Harmony. I love the bottles, though. May have to keep mine for an Infinity bottle.
Are Japanese single malts equally pricey IN Japan, or just here in the States?
Good question. From what I understand they are usually a bit cheaper
Interestingly, Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12 are cheaper in the states than in Japan. However the 18 is cheaper in Japan than the US. All of the limited releases are generally slightly cheaper in Japan as well.
Also I wonder, if the angel’s share is what concentrates the fruit flavors and ripens them.
I haven’t had Hibiki Japanese Harmony since they dropped the 12 year age statement and severely upped the price. Definitely a must-try for any whisky fan, but you have to start an evening with it. If you start with a scotch and move on to Hibiki it just lacks bite and seems too soft.
Gents, I tip my glass to you guys as always. Ever thought about doing something like this double-blind? One person's gonna have to pour it all though without any of you guys knowing or at least one of you guys do all the pouring and the other two taste. Would love to see how these would hold up without knowing what they are.
Definitely. We may try something like that in the future!
I remember paying £150 for Hibiki 21 about 15 years ago, I bought it together with the Yoichi 20 which was also £150. It's a very good whisky tbf but the most I'd pay and have paid for a whisky is £300, I'd never pay anymore than that.
I used to drink japanese whisky when seemingly nobody cared for it. Back then nobody particularly cared for scotch either compared to how its exploded in recent history.
I will say that the best of japan has passed and we will never get the quality of whiskies from back then. It was a fun time!
I really should explore Japanese whisky more. I've only bought a few of the Nikkas. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I have had Hibiki Harmony at a bar before, and it is a very good whisky. The only complaint I have with it is that it's too soft. Any idea what time of year the special editions usually hit the shelves?
I will agree on the balance point. That's probably why I like Campbeltown scotch so much.
In my experience, the blossom harmony hits the shelves in the spring.
No Hibiki 30? Peasants!
If the 21 was that good, I wonder how the Hibiki 30 is
Curious where you think the 12 would have landed. Above the Harmony? Above or behind the Master's Select and the Blossom? Cheers.
Cool drink though, kinda sucks it’s impossible to get any of these outside of the standard Harmony
Can tell Dutch edited the video right after the drink-through as he misspelled Recap there
LOL! Good catch. All producers are FIRED!
REACP
just What I was waiting for,
My son went to Japan and got me 3 Bottles of Hibiki, one Harmony, one 17yrs and one of 21yrs. I am giddy.
awesome!
'REACP'...gents, its a 'RECAP' 😂
Love the channel and, I enjoy the content. I’ve been watching since the “guild” days … I just wish the “Summer-fruit” and “Stone-fruit” note would be used a bit less….. an apple and a blackberry are very different
The shade at the end towards the ascot guy was funny 😂🤣
What’s the name of the guys channel ?
@@easye47 It’s Fred Minnick
i had the 1st one, was really smooth and good, i bet the 21 year is the bomb
More palatable than Yama 18, the Hibiki 21. Yama 18 is delicious but too challenging, the sherry flavor covers all the peach&pineapple etc. Yama 18 Anniversary Mizunara sounds good though. Actually have a chance to buy Umeshu Yamazaki, the plum liquer aged in Yamazaki barrels that's used in Hibiki blends $50-60 though marked up to $400 online @TW Duty Free. I don't think it's worth it as I've had Chita and I'd rather just buy Hibiki Master's (only one bottle a trip). Should I buy it for educational purposes?
I have a bottle of the regular hibiki and the hibiki 21 (havent opened the 21 yet) wish i had the whole lineup
Nice job fellas can’t wait to catch on a lifestream. Got a couple questions. “Curious”what you guys think
My favorite video of all time as a Hibiki lover myself, really appreciate them all being represented. I can get Blender’s Choice from Japan for $130. Do you guys feel like that’s worth the price of admission, as your judgement was based on $299?
Since you love Hibiki, you'll probably enjoy it at least for the academic exercise, and it is probably worth it at that price to try it out. That said, I think we all agreed the Master's Select is the better value.
@@CuriosityPublic thanks! I can’t find the MS under $250, might have to keep looking for the right price. PS my buddy just brought the 21 for me from Japan for $700. I couldn’t say yes to that fast enough
hi .can you give me some idea . about $300.00 to $600.00 .please let me known what scoltland whiskey i can buy ? THANK YOU .iwll see you next clips
Any recommendations for someone starting out looking for a nice whisky, not cheap and not costing too much?
Going to my best friend’s bachelor party in NYC next year and 21 is priced at $799.99; might have to nab it for my old man lol, with Jules willing to spend $1,200.00, would you guys rescore the 92 it got years ago?
I don’t see a value proposition in Japanese. Makes no sense to pay 2x-4x more money for the same quality as a Scotch. Unless you value subtly above all it makes zero sense.
You are paying for the balance and the elegance of the Japanese. Fewer rough edges, and for what edges there are, they are less pronounced. For me personally, I’m not a huge scotch fan, but I could drink Japanese any day of the week.
need to have the 30y to complete the drinkthrough
Great episode. I agree these all emphasize tremendous balance and I'm a huge fan for all of these. But two points though. #1, these are malt blends, and I would hazard that balance may be easier with a wider range of casks to work with than a typical single malt. And #2, bourbon is restricted to new oak, while these products are free to mix new and used oak. Again, maybe easier to achieve great balance. Still great product and great episode. Cheers.
That drink through needs some R peanut butter cups.
SMOOTH
Hibiki adds artificial color so can’t really judge anything based on appearance
Reacp? 😂
😁