Cheers

Cheers

The Beverage Business Magazine for Full-Service Restaurants and Bars

  • Beverage Trends
    • Beer
    • Wine
    • Spirits
    • Wine Reviews
    • Marketing
    • Operations
  • Operators
    • What I’m Drinking Now
  • Recipes
    • Submit a Drink Recipe
  • Events & Awards
    • Cheers Beverage Summit
    • Growth Brands
    • BevX Awards
    • Supplier Awards
  • Podcasts
  • E-News
    • E-News Subscribe
  • Digital Issues
  • Cheers@Home

Harmony in Japanese Whisky

07/07/2015

by: Kyle Swartz

Blended whiskey is a balance act of dissimilar spirits. This is particularly true of Japanese whisky. Distilleries in this category often produce a wide variety of whiskeys that are mixed together for the brand’s signature blend.

_MG_1157

Hibiki Japanese Harmony (All photos by Joe Leonard).

So it is for Suntory’s aptly named newest expression: Hibiki Japanese Harmony. The spirit utilizes whiskies made at the Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries of Suntori.

At a recent tasting dinner atop The New Museum in NYC, myself and other guests had opportunity to sample some of what went into this blend. Besides a whisky flight, the event also included food pairings by chefs David Bouley and Isao Yamada.

Advertisement

Leading us in the whisky tasting was Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. During a short speech before taking off through the flight, he revealed that his biggest challenge with Harmony was achieving a “Hibikiness” flavor profile while working with younger spirits.

This required maximizing flavors and effects of youthful whiskeys. “I matured these spirits in small casks that I though had a good chance for flavor extract, and in high-temperature spaces,” he said of the process. “In this way, I thought I could accelerate the aging process.”

_MG_0852

Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo speaks before the tasting.

The flight we sampled represented five of at least 10 whiskeys present in Harmony.

First up was the predominant component, a Chita Grain whiskey. This provided fruity, vanilla and floral flavors in the final product. Second in the tasting was an American Oak Cask-aged malt whisky. It was smooth and sweet, with spicy notes, and served as the “backbone” of Harmony, Fukuyo said.

Another malt whisky, aged in Sherry Casks, was a “dressing element,” giving the blend rich, dark notes. A Mizunara Cask-aged malt whisky fulfilled a similar role, appearing in the spicy aftertaste of Harmony.

The new expression also contains a small amount of smoky malt whisky, which tasted quite like peaty scotch.

Altogether, the final blend was again reminiscent of scotch: smooth, light, and deeply nuanced. There were plenty of spicy, darker notes lurking throughout. Harmony is a sipper, for sure: a complex spirit that continues to appeal to the palate well beyond the first glass.

_MG_0949

Smoked salmon over asparagus and fennel, topped with trout caviar and lemon foam.

The food that night wasn’t bad, either. Prepared by Bouley and Yamada, the menu included an appetizer of smoked salmon over asparagus and fennel, topped with trout caviar and lemon foam. This lighter dish paired well with the smoothness of Harmony.

For dinner we ate Colorado lamb with satoimo purée, drizzled with a Hibiki and red wine garlic sauce. Tender, juicy, and flavorful, this evoked the darker elements of Harmony.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony will roll out within the next couple of weeks at a suggested retail price of $64.99.

David Bouley Harmony Hibiki Hibiki Japanese Harmony Hibiki whisky Hibiki whisky japanese How much is Harmony Isao Yamada japanese Japanese Harmony Japanese Whisky Japanese whisky tasting Shinji Fukuyo Suntory Chief Blender Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo Suntory Japanese Whisky Suntory Whisky The New Museum What is harmony whisky whisky flight Whisky Harmony

Last modified: 07/07/2015

Previous Story:
Shining a Light on Viniq
Next Story:
Braai: Barbecue, Wine, and Cultural Spirituality

About the Author: Kyle Swartz

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In The News

  • Barton 1792 Begins Filling First New Warehouse in Decades
  • Canopy Growth Launches CBD Beverage Quatreau in the U.S.
  • Budweiser Select Reaches National Distribution
  • Grey Goose Essences Launch as Low-ABV Vodkas
  • Dogfish Head Canned Cocktails Hit the Shelves
  • Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey Returns to Markets
More News >>

Follow Us

Facebook
Twitter

Featured Drink

  • Spiked Xocolatl
    Spiked Xocolatl cocktail

Drink Recipes

  • Spiked Xocolatl
  • The Dapper Dragon
  • Frosty Bourbon
  • Winter Garden Sour
  • Very Special Valentines Cocktails For 2021

Current Issue

Cheers Current Issue

Cheers Magazine

  • About Cheers
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Market Research

Events & Awards

  • Beverage Excellence Awards
  • Cheers Beverage Summit
  • Growth Brands Awards

Magazines

  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Handbooks (research)

E-Newsletters

  • Better Bartending
  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Universe
  • Cannabis Regulator
  • About EPG Media
  • Send File
  • Privacy Policy
Powered by WordPress and Versal.