Hibiki Harmony Japanese Harmony Master's Select

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask is the real key here. 10 different single malt and grain whiskey blends. American, Mizunara and Sherry Cask are used for this blend. The Nose is my favourite, very floral, raisins, zesty, tropical fruitiness and vanilla. The palate is lovely with chocolate, orange marmalade followed with by a little baking spices. There's bitterness before the finish then followed by sweet oakiness and spices in the medium short finish.

Smooth with slight malt. The Japanese oak is mild.

N: tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple, honey, floral notes and sweet vanilla. P: sweet milk chocolate, mango, pineapple, honey, tangerine and just a hint of smoke F: low burn on the top of the tongue, soft, delicate, round with a short finish. A fantastic whisky, some nice complexity and exciting flavours. Very friendly at the start in your mouth with a slight burn on the tongue as you swallow. A delicious whisky with its only draw back being that it doesn’t last long after you swallow it. A longer finish would really push this to another level but overall very pleasant.

Overall one of the best whiskeys I’ve ever tried. Hibiki has found a way to balance complexity and intensity of flavors while keeping the result enjoyable and approachable. A masterstroke of blending. Nose: soft aromatic oak, peach, vanilla custard Palate: vanilla, baked apples, cinnamon, nutmeg Finish: milk chocolate, candied ginger