Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2022 Release

Tasted during a sublime BYOB, the 18th of February 2023, in Hotel Haarhuis, Arnhem During this I followed a Japanse Whisky Masterclass, organized by Niels Viveen, all profit going to the charity! malty grain, apple peel, meaty, biscuits, yeasty, dusty, sugared biscuits, floral

people who have marked this anything higher than 90 must be flippers. This dram body is so thin there is literally no after taste. The sweetness from the sakura wood is different but it doesn't blend in well with the rest of the profile. This would be an okay dram at

The aroma might be a bit weak, but it comes out very aromatic on the tongue. Do you have to pay the premium? I do not know…

Very similar to the 2021 bottling. 86-90 – Wow, really good one, need a bottle

When the ratio of open bottle to closed bottles is 0 to 150 it is obvious that this bottle isn't bought for drinking. I hate this - in what is the value of a drink when nobody drinks it. Nobody freezes Wagyu beef for selling it in a few years for double the price !?

Post-Halloween Biscuit Making Mellow and sweet with aromatic wood, malty pastries, and a touch of dried persimmon. Autumn meadows arrived with dried grass and late season flowers interspersed with fallen leaves— bucolic and simple without any rough edges. Light-bodied with a similar autumn vibe of dried vegetation, roasted pumpkin, wispy smoke with a touch of tobacco, dry earth, and grass. Ginger biscuits and malty pastries arrived on the mid-palate with a touch of honey and orange blossom. Medium-length the finish continued the orange and ginger biscuit pastry notes with aromatic woods and dried grass. The beauty of these Hibiki releases is their balanced profile and ability to disappear into the background of an evening. They are quaffable and the bottles look beautiful on the shelf, however, they are not always that interesting when you go looking for a whisky to hold your attention. This was no different, it was well-constructed and balanced, and a substantial upgrade over the typical Hibiki Harmony. It reminded me of the Master’s Select, but with some additional complexity and more vibrancy on the palate. It fell short of the Blender’s Choice which I find richer with a delightful savory quality that the other labels lack. Overall, a session whisky and something that felt perfect for a bowl of noodles or fish stew.

Hibiki's unique character is prevalent, but it feels monotonous and lacking compared to 17 years

Nose: Honey, flower, malt, rubber Taste: Honey, chestnut flower Finish: Chestnut flower, herb

Appearance: Straw to pale gold. Nose: Cherry, oak, spicy incense, vanilla, apple. Richly spicy and woody, with the cherry barrels coming out nicely. Palate: Creamy vanilla, cherry, apple, corn sugar. Finish: Bitter oak, spices. With Water: Sweeter and spicier. Overall: Easy drinking, smooth and sweet. Creamy and spicy in the Hibiki mold, with a nice touch of cherry. The finish is rather harsh and bitter though. Altogether nice enough. Not worth the aftermarket prices.

I've not trie many Japanese whiskies, but the ones I have tried are impressive so far. Retails at Approx. £250.00, with beautiful bottle and keepsake note enveloped; great presentaion.. Time to deep dive this one with, and without ice. Here goes...