Hibiki 21 Year

Fig, cherry, crisply toasted brioche, some oaky bite but overall warm and rich. Too expensive these days to secure a full bottle!

I’ve been adding reviews to Distiller from the Barreled app that I’ve been using for a few years now to try and even them out. Tonight I posted the review for my 150th whisky and I made it for this wonderful Piece of Japanese artwork. This marks my 150th whisky reviewed on Barreled, so to celebrate the occasion I decided to review a top shelf whisky. Hibiki 21 is a blended Japanese whisky aged in a combination of American, European and Japanese oak. Bottled at 43% ABV and I have no info currently regarding any chill filtration or colorant. This pours a beautiful deep amber. The nose is so very different than anything I’ve ever had before. Incredibly floral and savory. It’s like cherry blossoms wrapped up in undercooked bacon. Reminds me also of a cherry sausage that is made at one particular supermarket in northern Michigan. Marvelous polished oak. Floral honey. Sherry notes start to creep in. Warm apple and pear pies, raisins and sweet syrup. Warming wood spices and a baked potato covered in butter. Vanilla, caramel and molasses. Towards the end it takes on a slightly grassy note. Truly enigmatic and wonderful. The palate starts full on sherry. Cherries, syrup and a thin layer of smoke. Old oak sanded smoothed and rubbed with orange oil. Vanilla, floral honey and chamomile. Buttery biscuits and a far off roasted corn note. Dangerously drinkable. A light bodied mouthfeel, but so silky smooth and mouthwatering. A medium long finish with sherried oak, orange oil and vanilla. So smooth and flavorful without even a hint of alcoholic harshness. Sweet, savory and, again, smooth. Fully matured and layered with complexity. “Sadly”, I was only able to review a 1 oz sample instead of a 2 oz, but I would have been happy with a 1/4 ounce. I wish I could find and/or afford a full bottle, but at today’s prices and availability I doubt that will happen. Still it was a superb whisky deserving of its many accolades. A big thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for getting that big promotion at work and celebrating by opening this rare whisky and providing me with a sample. Thanks buddy. 4.75 Cheers

Nose - Fruity dark honey, tanned oiled leather, toasted brioche, dark dried stone fruits, grilled pineapple, hint of toasted coconut, grilled peaches. Taste - Fruity/floral dark honey, spiced honey drizzled grilled pineapple/peaches, sweet tobacco, leather, subtle hint of dark stone fruits. Finish - Long lingering sweet leathery/oaky spice, light fruity medicinal sweet, like that of goji berries and longan, lightly drying. Score - 96/100 Final Thoughts - I really really hate to add to the hype of Japanese whisky but this is a very well put together and balanced like their other offerings. This is a very excellent blend of malt & grain whiskies put together in a beautiful bottle and is a fantastic mix of dark and light flavors all in one package. The age shows in this with the darker color, but the heavy oak influence is subdued a bit and the flavors just work together. A nice balance of dark flavors (leather/tobacco/dark fruits) balanced out by light flavors (honey/grilled peaches/pineapple). I'd say this is definitely something best sipped neat without the addition of any water since it's already at a respectable 43% and very well balanced as is.

I could inhale this all night: warm pecan pie, with a drizzle of butterscotch sauce. But drink it I must. It’s smooth and viscous, with flavors of clover honey and a hint of orange blossom. The finish is long and syrupy. Another special treat courtesy of @PBMichiganWolverine .