Whisky: Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2022 Release

Country/Region: Japan/Blend

ABV: 43%

Cask: Sakura Cask Finish

Age: N/A (Bottled 2022)

Nose: Mellow with wood, pastry, and dried fruits; autumn-like with dried grass, fallen leaves, and wood.

Palate: Light-bodied, autumn, dried vegetation, tobacco, earth, grass, ginger biscuits, honey, orange.

Finish: Medium-length with orange, ginger biscuit, wood, and dried grass.

Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Post-Halloween Biscuit Making

Narrative & Notes: 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.