Hibiki, whose name means resonance or echo, is the flagship blended whisky of Suntory. It embodies a philosophy — quite distinct from the Scottish tradition — in which blending is considered the pinnacle of the distiller's craft rather than a secondary activity in support of single malt production.
A History of the Distillery
The Hibiki story begins with Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory, and his decision to establish Japan's first malt whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923. Yamazaki was joined in later decades by the Hakushu distillery in the Southern Japanese Alps and by the Chita grain distillery on the Ise Bay. Hibiki as an expression was first released in 1989 to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of Suntory, and it drew on the accumulated stock of these three complementary sites.
Traditional Production Methods
Japanese Harmony is a blend of malt whiskies from Yamazaki and Hakushu combined with grain whisky from Chita. The composition draws on component whiskies aged in a variety of casks including American white oak, Sherry butts and the rare Mizunara Japanese oak. The expression carries no age statement, being selected for harmony rather than for years alone.
In the Japanese tradition, harmony is not a compromise but an achievement — a quiet mastery of many voices speaking as one.
Historical Importance
Japanese whisky drew its earliest inspiration from Scotland but has developed an entirely distinct philosophy, one that emphasises balance, subtlety and rigorous craftsmanship. Hibiki is widely regarded as the finest contemporary expression of the Japanese blending tradition.
Historical Curiosities
The Hibiki bottle has twenty-four facets, one for each of the sekki — the traditional Japanese micro-seasons that divide the year. Each facet is said to correspond to a subtle quality that the whisky develops through the changing conditions of maturation.
International Recognition
Hibiki has been decorated repeatedly at the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirit Competition, and is credited with introducing Japanese whisky to a wide international audience.
