| ABV |
43% |
|---|---|
| Aging |
Finished in Plum Wine Casks |
| Recipe |
Malt and Grain Whiskies |
| Distiller | Yamazaki, Hakushu & Chita (Japan) |
One effect of all the Japanese whisky craze has been an increasing influx of no-age-statement whisky, as this Hibiki whisky has been introduced without one. I find, below, that it isn't inferior to the 12 Year Old.
Review (2016)
Batch: N/A
Bottling Code: N/A
Bottling Date: 2016
On the nose, anise seed, with a general dry spicy feel and some pear. It takes some time to open up with some malt and vanilla coming through. The palate has creamy, buttery barley, with a light smoky end. There is also some rich barley, pear, and some very light earthy notes in the background and a reasonable amount of tannin as well. It’s sweet, with vanilla and a light edge of smoke on the finish. Rich barley is still in the mix, with a tinge of spice. Decent body, with a bit of a peaty vegetal character to it as well. A nice strength to this – the creaminess is nicely buffeted by the 48.2% bottling strength which brings in a strong bit of ancillary flavour.
Highly Recommended (48% of all whiskies I’ve reviewed to date get this recommendation or higher).
Value: Average. Really not a bad buy for $100, especially for Japanese whisky.