Hibiki 17 Year Old is the blend that started the Hibiki name, first released by Suntory in 1989. This is the 750mL bottle at 86 proof, the format used for the American market.
About This Whisky
Malt whiskies from Yamazaki and Hakushu are joined by grain whisky from Chita, with every component aged for at least 17 years. Early releases drew on more than 30 whiskies, including some malt matured in casks that had previously held umeshu, the Japanese plum liqueur. This bottle is the 750mL size at 86 proof, which is 43% ABV.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Honey, apricot and orange peel, with a light floral lift and a little sandalwood.
- Palate: Silky and rounded, with baked peach, toffee, vanilla and gentle oak spice.
- Finish: Long and sweet, with a trace of incense and dried citrus.
Serving & Food
Serve at room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass and let it rest briefly before the first sip. A little cool still water brings the fruit forward. Try it with grilled unagi, a plate of aged Comté, or a slice of yuzu cheesecake.
How to Enjoy
Anyone curious about where Hibiki began, and those who prefer a soft, fruit-led blend to a heavily sherried one.
Product Details
Producer: House of Suntory
Whisky: Blended Japanese whisky
Age Statement: 17 years old
Country: Japan
Blend Components: Yamazaki and Hakushu malt, Chita grain
Barrel Type: Several cask types, including ex-umeshu casks in earlier releases
ABV: 43%
Proof: 86
Volume: 750mL
About the Distillery
The idea came from Keizo Saji, Suntory's master blender and company head, who in 1987 set out to make a blend that would show what the house could do. His chief blender, Koichi Inatomi, worked through Suntory's aged stocks to find the right components, and the finished whisky went on sale in 1989 to mark ninety years since the company was founded.
The name means resonance, and the idea was a blend in which no single whisky dominates. The kanji on the label was brushed by the calligrapher Ogino Tansetsu.