Suntory Hibiki 12 Year Old

Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance are graded out of 2.5 each:

Nose: Heavy layers of caramel and rubber, mixed in with fresh herbs, wood-shavings and even peeled onions. A deep plum aroma is not all-together surprising given the Hibiki's part-maturation in plum-liquer casks. Tangerine and celery notes are also apparent in this richly intricate, heavily malted nose. 2.5

Taste: Viscous tangerine extract from the rich malt is blended in seamlessly with the peppery offering from the grain. Juicy caramel and oak give a sense of harmony over the palate, with warm toffee acting to muffle some of the prickly spice. 2.0

Finish: Citrus and pear are the next to emerge from the caramel, which slowly dissipates as the finish continues to grow, leaving behind an oaky residue coated in furry spice and vanilla-soaked radish. As the finish slowly deflates and lingers, green peppercorn is the last to leave and turn out the lights. 2.0

Balance: A very rich whisky comprising of a high volume of single malts, thus giving a luxurious texture to a straight blend of its age. There are plenty of intricate and colourful flavours to discover here in the beautiful land of Hibiki, however it is a land governed by a caramel dictatorship. It isn't necessarily a tyrannical regime, and the charismatic caramel rule does to its credit give an apparent structure and unity between the nose, palate and finish, however I personally would like to see the diverse flavour population beneath the caramel have a bit more of a free say. 2.0

Find where to buy Suntory Hibiki whisky