Hibiki is one of the major product lines in Suntory. For standard bottlings, there are the youngest 12 years old, classic 17 years, premium 21 years and flagship 30 years old. The recent new release includes those special fancy labels and duty free exclusive versions, as well as the NAS (No Age Statement) bottling. The new NAS Hibiki is named Harmony. By the price level suggested, this new NAS Harmony becomes the elementary bottling in this product line.

The Hibiki Harmony which I am going to introduce is not the current elementary version. It was one of the two special editions released in 2013.

Hibiki  Mellow Harmony, 700 ml, 43%

The formula of Hibiki Mellow Marmony is based on standard 17 years old by adding some Yamazaki malts of more than 30 years ago, limited to 4,000 bottles. There was another special edition released at the same time, the Deep Harmony, also based on standard 17 years old formula, blended with Hakushu malts aged in ex-red wine cask , limited to 4,000 bottle as well.

The Hibiki whisky is famous in smooth and soft. Now harmony plus mellow that the style of this Hibiki is very obvious.

Nose: Preserved plum, fresh apricot, apple, chocolate, sandalwood
Palate: Honey, plum, coffee, citrus peel, spices
Aftertaste: Medium length, coffee grounds, toasted wood
Comments: Very sweet and soft aroma, especially the sweet with sour preserved plum, fresh apricot, delicious apple, delightful chocolate and faint wood at back. Soft and smooth body, balance between sweet and bitter. Medium length aftertaste, trended to toasty. A whisky of soft and smooth but with dimensions, good example to blended whiskies. Overall it is soft and sweet but balanced with adequate bitterness and toasty, a good whisky for leisure time.

Hibiki Mellow Harmony

HIBIKI

“響”是三得利旗艦級調合威士忌(Blended Whisky)。是最廣為香港人認識的日本威士忌之一。

響21年, 是以貯藏之21年以上的山崎原酒為基酒, 加入其他酒齡21年以上穀類或麥芽原酒。其中山崎原酒, 經過梅酒桶過桶, 為酒體增加果香。

響酒樽垂直望是24邊形， 寓意24節氣交替的和諧平衡，單是酒樽設計， 已是型格非常！日文"響"的意思是harmony，如交響曲悅耳動人。品嘗響21時，不禁令人想起巴赫名曲－Air On G String。

＂《Air On G String》原來是在巴哈所創作四套管弦樂組曲當中的第三組，這一套組曲中有五首曲子，分別是《序曲》（Ouverture）、《歌曲》（Air）、《嘉禾舞曲》（Gavotte）、《布雷舞曲》（Bourree）、《吉格舞曲》（Gigue），其中第二首《歌曲》只以弦樂器演奏，之後由於它的旋律太美，一位德國小提琴家威廉就將它改編為只以小提琴四條弦當中的G弦（小提琴的四條弦分別是E弦、A弦、D弦、G弦，其中G弦的音階最低）演奏的獨奏曲，這份演奏充份展現出G弦的特色，柔和而溫暖，因此這首《歌曲》就被通稱為《G弦之歌》，流傳至今。＂

資料來源:http://mymedia.yam.com/m/116842

小堤琴演奏動人簡潔的主旋律，以大提琴/低音大提琴等弦樂器作伴奏。沒有洶湧澎湃的編曲，著力於表現出Ｇ弦的溫婉和諧。就如響２１表現出，層層緊扣的木質與黑果香氣～～～

Hibiki Front

Hibiki back

香味: 椰絲, 嘉應子, 烏梅, 多士, 忌廉, 山渣

口味: 提子乾, 椰絲, 花蜜, 百合, 茉莉, 檀木

餘韻: 中長, 乾木, 提子乾, 乾花, 忌廉

沿著陽光普照的橡木橋, 在陽光下騷香的木纖維香氣撲面而來。跟隨住香味的帶領，到達農場。打開圍欄進入黑果樂園，進入園內發現不只是果園, 更是五彩的花圃。 果香混合著香氣，美不勝收。採下飽滿的果實和美豔動人的鮮花，放進滕籃，好讓美好時光留住。但是時間不會為任何人事停留，不知不覺間，籃子內的花果已乾透。青春的味道留不住，怱怱忙忙追追遂逐，一轉眼已到了黃昏。拿著昏黃的乾果乾花，原來已回到原來的橋上。

總結：
聞香時以木質與黑果香氣為主，椰絲，嘉應子氣味香甜。入口再散發出木香及花香。餘韻以乾果亁花作結。
酒精感輕, 酒體柔順, 平衡與圓融, 層次豐富。如絲幼滑, 甜美可口 。
聞，飲，餘韻，香味由鮮至乾一層一層緊扣的變化，實在非常出色。可見三得利調合及釀陳功力非凡！柔順的酒體亦容易受普羅飲家接受，難怪受香港一眾＂達人＂追捧。

High ball

P.S. 響21 Highball
由三得利公司"研發" ，以一份酒＋兩份梳打水＋冰的Highball飲法。
係威士忌deep web見到有人推介響21 既呢種敗家飲法。人一世，物一世，所以跟風試試！！
加冰後，大部分香味被雪藏，談不上有什麼層次。
不過清甜可口，嘉應子,提子乾味非常清爽~~~ 可謂消暑佳品!!!