9/18/2023 0 Comments Sakura hibiki whiskey![]() ![]() To delve deeper into the components that make Hibiki what it is today, Shinji Fukuyo guided us through a selection of six different drams, starting with American white oak malt whisky and Mizunara cask malt whisky before moving on to the Hakushu smoky single malt whisky, and to Hibiki Japanese Harmony itself, setting the scene for the awaiting Hibiki Blossom variant. Therefore, there’s no indication of the age of the youngest blends that lie within. This explains why some have already gone under the hammer online with a slightly different look to the “rest of the world” packaging, with values easily hitting in the realms of £300.īottled at 43% ABV, Hibiki Blossom Harmony is, in fact, a non-age statement (NAS) whisky, contrary to some other Hibikis, such as the highly-prized 21 and the 30 Year Old, which we also had the privilege of sampling during the evening. When you do your research, 1,000 bottles were released via an online lottery for 11,000 Yen (around £70) back in May 2022. However, this year’s iteration of Blossom Harmony is not so new for Japan. The 2022 edition is, therefore, the second expression to “blossom” in the series (excuse the pun) and the first Blossom Harmony release for the “rest of the world” for countries such as the UK, Taiwan and China, amongst many others. The limited edition Blossom Harmony blend was unveiled last year solely in Suntory’s home territory of Japan, becoming the first Hibiki to be aged in casks using wood from the Sakura or Japanese cherry tree – synonymous with the beautiful flowers they produce. The Hibiki Harmony blend was unveiled in 2015 and uses single malt and grain whiskies sourced from the Osaka-based House of Suntory’s respective Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. Furthermore, the thinking behind the 24 facets is that it allows those enjoying Hibiki to see a narrative of history and time first-hand. Hibiki means “Resonance” in Japanese, and the brand’s bottle design, introduced in 1989, is unique in that it has 24 narrow faces (a 24-sided shape is called an “icositetragon” for those wondering), which is a nod to the 24 hours of a day, and the 24 “Sekki” or micro-seasons, found within the Japanese lunar calendar. ![]() The focus for the evening was the arrival of the new limited edition 2022 Hibiki Blossom Harmony blended whisky. With a clear passion for whisky and comprehensive knowledge to match, Shinji Fukuyo is responsible for overseeing all of Suntory’s releases, including those within the multi-award-winning and highly sought-after Hibiki, Yamazaki and Hakushu portfolios. ![]() He was also named Executive Officer in 2014 and Whisky Quality Advisor of Beam Suntory in 2018 – an impressive CV. Shinji Fukuyo was appointed Chief Blender for the House of Suntory in 2009 – only the fifth person to have the privilege of holding this position at the company. Simon Wittenberg attends an exclusive tasting in the esteemed company of the House of Suntory’s Chief Blender to sample the new limited edition 2022 Hibiki® Blossom Harmony™ blended whisky. ![]()
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