Suntory is Releasing a 21-Year-Old Bottle of its Highly Coveted Hibiki Whisky
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
Japanese whisky continues to be an elusive and expensive spirit, although things do seem to be starting to calm down a bit. That’s not necessarily the case when it comes to whisky powerhouse Suntory, however, which continues to release highly coveted whiskies. That trend continues with the launch of the anniversary edition of its 21-year-old Hibiki blend, created to celebrate the company’s centennial.
More from Robb Report
Johnnie Walker and a Michelin 3-Starred Chef Created a Blue Label Whisky With Umami
This Collection of Rare Single Malts Includes Talisker's Oldest Whisky
Taste Test: Turns Out Rod Stewart Makes a Solid Blended Scotch
Hibiki launched in 1989 as a blend of whiskies from Suntory’s three distilleries—malt producers Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain distillery Chita. Originally, there were three age statement expressions in the lineup: 12, 17, and 21-year-old whiskies. The 17-year-old was discontinued a few years ago, instantly making this whisky even more collectible, and a non-age-statement expression called Harmony was introduced more recently. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Suntory, which we covered here before, and the celebration has included a video campaign featuring Keanu Reeves directed by Sofia Coppola, and the launch of some new single malts. And now two more Hibiki whiskies are joining the seemingly endless year of Suntory time.
“For the limited-edition Hibiki 21-Year–Old, our team took on the challenge of crafting a new blend to celebrate our centennial,” said Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo in a statement. “With meticulous precision, we managed to harness the challenging-yet-rewarding characteristics of Japanese mizunara oak to accentuate the unique flavor profile for which our Hibiki whiskies are known.” In addition to reformulating the blend for this special release, the label design was changed to represent the rising sun. Official tasting notes describe a sweet and floral palate with spiced sandalwood and agarwood, followed by a long finish with undertones of mizunara. This bottle will be available in select markets for an SRP of $5,000—but expect to find it in the wild for much more than that.
The other new release is an anniversary edition of the NAS Hibiki Harmony. The liquid remains the same, but the label design features snow, the moon, and flowers to represent Japan’s seasons, and a “kakehashi,” or bridge, symbolically linking the past, future, and present. Official tasting notes list honey, candied orange peel, and white chocolate on the palate, followed by more mizunara on the finish. This anniversary edition of Harmony will also be available globally with an SRP of $200.
If you’re looking for some much easier to acquire bottles from Suntory, including Roku Gin, Haku Vodka, and Toki Japanese Whisky, check out the selection available at ReserveBar. Who knows, you might just get lucky and score a bottle of the 55-year-old Yamazaki as well.
Best of Robb Report
Why a Heritage Turkey Is the Best Thanksgiving Bird—and How to Get One
The 10 Best Wines to Pair With Steak, From Cabernet to Malbec
Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
