Hibiki 17 Year Old is Suntory's discontinued 17-year blend, offered here as a full 700mL bottle without its outer box. Sales in Japan ended in 2018, and the expression no longer appears in Suntory's current range.
About This Whisky
Every component in the blend is at least 17 years old, matured across Suntory's range of cask types and bottled at 43%. Stock shortages led Suntory to announce in 2018 that it would stop selling the 17 in Japan from that September, with other markets following as inventory ran out. This bottle is sold without the outer carton; the whisky inside is the same.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Honey, dried apricot, orange peel and a trace of incense over soft oak.
- Palate: Silky and composed, with dried fruit, vanilla, gentle spice and grain sweetness.
- Finish: Elegant and long, with polished oak, citrus and a lingering sweetness.
Serving & Food
A full bottle rewards slow drinking. Pour at room temperature into a tulip glass, or try the Japanese mizuwari: one part whisky to two of chilled still water over ice. Try it with grilled black cod with miso, duck breast, or crème brûlée.
How to Enjoy
Drinking rather than display: a good choice when the whisky matters more than the packaging.
Product Details
Producer: Suntory
Origin: Japan
Style: Blended Japanese whisky
Age: 17 Year Old
ABV: 43%
Volume: 700ml
Presentation: No box
About the Distillery
What gives Hibiki its depth is the blenders' choice of wood. Suntory draws on casks of several kinds for the brand, including ex-bourbon barrels, sherry casks and Japanese mizunara oak, which brings the sandalwood and incense notes often linked with Hibiki.
The 17 Year Old combines malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu with grain whisky from Chita. Getting that balance right year after year is the blenders' job, and the Hibiki blends today are overseen by Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory's fifth-generation chief blender.