New Expert Spirit Reviews - October 18, 2023

Released to celebrate the House of Suntory's 100th anniversary, this 21 year-old Hibiki features a unique new blend created to honor the occasion. Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo and his team accentuated the influence of rare Mizunara oak for this centennial bottling. First released in 1989, Hibiki is Suntory's blended whisky brand featuring malt and grain whiskies from its Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries. This limited edition is available globally in select markets beginning September 2023. (SRP $5,000)

Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson select fully matured barrels of the brand's US*1 Rye. Then each was transferred for finishing into a second barrel, made of special wood that was naturally air-dried and seasoned outdoors for 24 months and toasted, but not charred. The average barrel proof for these bottles is 108.9 (54.45% ABV) but will vary. Launching September 2023 in limited quantities. (SRP $120)

This is the third limited edition release in the brand's Extinct Blends Quartet series, which pays homage to discontinued expressions of blended Scotch whiskies from the past few decades. The name of this expression is both a literary reference to author Sir Walter Scott and a tribute to the tradition of Scotch culture in the cities Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is primarily composed of malts from Aberlour and Miltonduff distilleries, some of which is married and further matured in sherry butts. An additional parcel of peated malt from Bowmore Distillery in Islay completes the blend. It is bottled at 49% ABV and limited to 5,190 bottles released worldwide with the US getting its allotment beginning September 20, 2023. (SRP $325)

Very Olde St. Nick (VOSN) is a whiskey brand created in 1986 with a focus on small releases of vintage stock barrels. This Immaculata bottling is made with a base of 15 year-old bourbon and is presented at cask strength. Depending on the batch, that will range from 115-120 proof. It's bottled without chill-filtration. Available as of July 2023 in limited quantities. (SRP $259)

Created by 8th generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe, Basil Hayden Malted Rye was made with an unconventional mash bill recipe of 100% malted rye. Bottled at 80 proof, this is a new permanent addition to the Basil Hayden portfolio. Available beginning September 2023. (SRP $59.99)