This time, we will be focusing on the Hibiki brand's " Hibiki Blender's Choice ," which was introduced in 2018. This is a must-read for Hibiki fans, as well as those who are interested in the taste and want to try it.
What kind of whisky is Hibiki Blender's Choice?
One of the premium whiskeys released by Suntory
Hibiki Blender's Choice is one of the products in the "Hibiki" series, the highest quality blended whisky released by Suntory . It is marked by the "BLENDER'S CHOICE" written on the multi-faceted bottle that is characteristic of Hibiki.Hibiki is a whiskey that meets the definition of a so-called Japanese whiskey, and of course Hibiki Blender's Choice also fits the criteria. It has become one of the most talked-about Japanese whiskeys in recent years, and is gaining huge popularity on the market.
Furthermore, Hibiki Blender's Choice is a product developed solely for restaurants , not the general market. Another notable feature is that it has a flavor that can be enjoyed with food.
A blended whisky made by combining multiple raw liquors
Hibiki Blender's Choice is a blended whisky that combines malt and grain whiskies. The whiskies are made from whisky from Suntory's Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries . The whiskies are aged in a wide variety of barrels and are combined by a highly skilled blender to create a well-balanced flavor.
While single malts express the individuality of the distillery to the fullest, blended whisky Hibiki is a whisky that highlights the blending techniques of the distillers. In particular, Blender's Choice is characterized by the use of a wide variety of raw liquors, including different ages, aging periods, and types of casks.
Released as the successor to Hibiki 17 years old
Last night I had the luxury of drinking Hibiki 17 Year Old as a highball pic.twitter.com/5laRIpIJJB
— Lisa Lisa (@c5_lisalisa_c5) December 1, 2023
Hibiki Blender's Choice is a relatively new product in the Hibiki lineup, having been launched in 2018.
Until then, the lineup included the aged whiskey Hibiki 17 Year Old, but unfortunately Hibiki 17 Year Old was discontinued due to a lack of raw liquor. It is said that Hibiki Blender's Choice was born as a "successor" to Hibiki 17 Year Old in response to this.
To alleviate the lack of raw liquor, Hibiki Blender's Choice was created by combining raw liquors of various ages, rather than sticking to the 17-year maturation period. For this reason, Hibiki Blender's Choice is treated as a non-aged whiskey, with no age statement .
However, even though it is non-aged, this does not mean that the quality of the whiskey itself has decreased. Some of the raw liquor is young, but the inclusion of young raw liquor gives it a fresh and vibrant appeal that is different from single malt or long-aged whiskey. The fact that it is non-aged means that you can enjoy the freedom of flavor, which is one of the attractions of Hibiki Blender's Choice. It is more affordable than whiskeys with age labels, making it an easy choice to try, and we recommend it as an introduction to Hibiki.
<Hibiki Blender's Choice product information>
- Type of whiskey: Blended whiskey
- Manufacturer: Suntory
- Alcohol content: 43%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 11,000 yen (tax included)
The flavor of Hibiki Blender's Choice! The bittersweet taste is appealing
Fruity sweetness and acidity of wine barrel aged raw liquor
Hibiki Blender's Choice contains malt whiskeys that have been aged in wine barrels. Its greatest feature is that you can enjoy the fruity aroma of malt whiskeys that have been aged in wine barrels .
Although it is called a wine barrel, it only affects the aroma, not the strong taste of wine. It has a mellow sweetness and gentle acidity, so even those who don't like wine can try it.
The aroma of Hibiki Blender's Choice is often likened to wild strawberries, white peaches, and pineapples, and has a prominent fresh fruity aroma. When you put it in your mouth, a full-bodied sweetness spreads, and you can enjoy a pleasant acidity and lingering aftertaste that is not too strong.
The blend is well balanced and easy to drink.
Some non-aged whiskeys have a noticeable alcohol taste. However, Hibiki Blender's Choice, made with blending techniques, is very easy to drink and has almost no alcoholic taste, even though it is non-aged . Although the alcohol content is high at 43%, it is easy to drink.
This is a bottle that is easy to try even for whiskey beginners who don't drink much whiskey on a daily basis.
How is it different from Hibiki Japanese Harmony?
One of the bottles that is often compared to Hibiki Blender's Choice is "Hibiki Japanese Harmony." This is one of Hibiki's standard products, and is a non-aged whiskey that is often available on the general market. The list price of Hibiki Japanese Harmony is 5,500 yen (tax included) , and it can be said to be a more approachable bottle than Blender's Choice.
Comparing the two, Blender's Choice has a sour, fruity sweetness , while Japanese Harmony has a honey-like sweetness and floral aroma .
Both are delicious and popular whiskeys, so it would be interesting to compare them. If you like whiskey aged in wine barrels, we recommend Hibiki Blender's Choice .
Is it bad? Is it good? We looked into actual reviews and ratings
Hibiki Blender's Choice is a popular and famous bottle of Japanese whiskey, but what are the general opinions on it? We looked into the reviews on Twitter, so let's take a look.It has received high praise for its ease of drinking and rich aroma.
Hibiki Blender's Choice is delicious☺️🥃✨✨
— Smoked🔥Taro (@nichijyo206) January 8, 2023
First impression~I'm happy😆✨✨✨
It has a gorgeous vanilla scent and is incredibly smooth on the palate!
I think this is more suitable for straight or rock music😊.
When water was added, it became surprisingly refreshing, and the aroma changed to something like honey. I felt like I was drinking something amazing.✨🥃✨ pic.twitter.com/6gCk6VAKiP
The key to the evaluation of Hibiki Blender's Choice is, of course, its strong aroma. The fruity and impactful aroma sets it apart from whiskeys sold in supermarkets and convenience stores for several thousand yen. The sweet aroma is often likened to fruit, but some people may find it to be similar to vanilla or creme brulée .Hibiki Blender's Choice has a really good scent... I could just smell it forever... pic.twitter.com/DwxUBs7eAA
— Katsuo (@sky_takaya) January 2, 2023
In addition, while it is gorgeous, it is also praised for being easy to drink without being too flashy when you put it in your mouth. It is a type of whiskey that is easy to drink, with a rich flavor that is hard to detect off-flavors.
The winner is its versatility, which makes it delicious no matter how you drink it
Hibiki Blender's Choice
— Mike (@mike19890717) January 7, 2023
A versatile drink that's delicious no matter how you drink it💕 #TWLC pic.twitter.com/CldnKnPgjR
Looking at the reviews of people who have actually tried Hibiki Blender's Choice, we can see that many people enjoy it not only straight, but also on the rocks or as a highball . The fact that it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways is one of the unique charms of Hibiki Blender's Choice.Hibiki Blender's Choice.
— masa (@masa77223970) December 31, 2022
On the rocks with a highball as a chaser.
It's very delicious 🥃 pic.twitter.com/wf70CAJUKW
Whisky, which is generally said to be easy to drink straight, often feels unsatisfying when served on the rocks or as a highball. However, Hibiki Blender's Choice has an impactful aroma and flavor, so it has the advantage of not being overpowered by adding water or soda . In fact, the nuances change depending on how you drink it, so you won't get bored of it and can enjoy it for a long time.
The price is hard to evaluate
Many people say that Hibiki Blender's Choice tastes good but is expensive. It is nearly twice as expensive as Japanese Harmony, which is also in the Hibiki series, and it is said that it is not good value for money .Although it's a little late, I hope you have a great year.
— Fuka (@fcalcohol) January 2, 2023
The first bottle I opened in the new year was Hibiki Blender's Choice, which I had found in a lucky bag some time ago but had left lying around. It had a berry-like nuance from the wine barrel and was delicious, just how I like it ☺️
I don't think it deserves such harsh criticism though.
Well, considering the price, I think I'll buy something else 🥺 pic.twitter.com/okUpNxJPF9
In terms of taste, it is a very delicious whiskey, but it is not suitable for daily drinking, and some people may find it difficult to drink considering the price. It is positioned as a whiskey to choose for special occasions.
Although there are almost no comments saying that Hibiki Blender's Choice itself is bad, there are many who say that it is a little strange when considered as a successor to "Hibiki 17 Year Old" . Since it is a non-aged product, it tastes like a matured whiskey. If you are expecting this, it is undeniable that there will be some disappointing moments.The successor to Hibiki 17 Year Old, Hibiki Blender's Choice, was originally priced at 10,000 yen, but for some reason it was priced at a premium of 20,000 to 30,000 yen online. I remember it was only sold at restaurants, but now it's available at regular liquor stores.
— kt (@kt97628595) October 18, 2020
Maybe Hibiki 17 Year Old was over-rated, but the reviews are mixed... #Hibiki17YearOld #HibikiBlendersChoicepic.twitter.com /Dj3V6u9nFD
When it comes to taste, preferences are divided, so if you're unsure, we recommend trying a sample or having a glass at a bar first before trying it.
Hibiki Blender's Choice price and price trends! What about the rumors of it being discontinued?
The list price is 10,000 yen, but the price has increased slightly at present.
Suggested retail price (list price) | Online market price |
---|---|
11,000 yen (tax included) | Approximately 15,000 yen |
In recent years, the popularity of Japanese whiskey has been a hot topic, and Hibiki's price has been rising. In some cases, the list price itself has increased, and it is expected that Hibiki Blender's Choice will continue to rise in price.
Domestic whiskey continues to be in short supply. 8 Japanese whiskeys likely to rise in price
There were rumors that it was going to be discontinued.
There was a time when there were rumors that Hibiki Blender's Choice would be discontinued. The rumors were likely due to the fact that it was not included in Suntory's lineup for a period of time.However, don't worry, it's not actually discontinued . However, there have been times when it was in short supply and rumors of it being discontinued spread, so you can't always buy it.
To begin with, Hibiki Blender's Choice is a product intended for use in restaurants, and in most cases it is not distributed in general stores. Even if it is not discontinued, it is not easy to obtain and the price can be high, so be careful.
In some stores, you may be able to purchase it at the retail price.
Today, even though I was exhausted after working 14 hours, I stopped off at two liquor stores on the way home and bought some Taketsuru and Hibiki Blender's Choice at regular price 😆
— The door is open (@OpentheAita_96) December 16, 2022
I'll have a Taketsuru highball right away 😊 #TWLC pic.twitter.com/dE8cVVhkPj
Hibiki Blender's Choice has been the subject of much discussion due to its discontinuation, shortages, and rising prices, but that doesn't mean you can't buy it at the regular price. Depending on the timing and the shop you choose, you may be able to buy it at the regular price, so give it a try. According to purchase reports on Twitter, it seems to be available at large liquor stores and liquor sections such as "Yamaya" and "Ito Yokado" . It is sometimes possible to purchase it at the regular price, so if you see it, be sure to grab it.Tadaa🥃✨
— Sauran🏊♂️🚴🏃💨 (@saurunner) November 24, 2022
I was able to purchase Hibiki Blender's Choice at the regular price on Ito Yokado's online store thanks to information provided by @lespaul555_ 🥃✨
I'm so happy✨ pic.twitter.com/WmZ5gNZeNe
Some stores have conditions for purchases. The rules vary from shop to shop, such as only selling to card members or requiring the purchase of another whiskey.I found Hibiki Blender's Choice at regular price at a liquor store in Ginza, but I couldn't buy it because my conditions didn't suit me.
— Matsuda Hajime (@mazda_h) December 24, 2022
If you would like to purchase Hibiki Blender's Choice, please contact a liquor store directly.
Whisky Hibiki continues to run out of stock and is no longer available. Is it impossible to buy it at the regular price?
We also recommend trying your luck with lottery sales and whiskey raffles.
Some shops sell Hibiki Blender's Choice through a lottery or raffle. If you're lucky, you might be able to buy Hibiki Blender's Choice at the regular price or even lower.If you want to increase your chances of purchasing Hibiki Blender's Choice, be sure to check out the lottery sales.
Whisky lottery sale! Where can I buy at regular price: Takashimaya, Yodobashi, or Bic Camera?
If you want to buy Hibiki Blender's Choice, go to Linkus
As mentioned above, Hibiki Blender's Choice is a popular bottle and the price is rising on the internet. If it is unopened, you can often sell it at a good price at a liquor purchase service. If you have some Hibiki Blender's Choice left over that you don't drink, you should definitely consider using a liquor purchase service. Linkus, a liquor purchase specialist store, is also strengthening the purchase of Hibiki Blender's Choice, so please feel free to contact us .
Linkuss offers in-store purchases, mail- order purchases , and on-site purchases . You can use our convenient and affordable purchase appraisal service at no extra cost to you.
<Hibiki Blender's Choice Tips for High Purchase Prices>
- Keep the box and accessories together
- If it has been on display, check to see if it is dusty or dirty.
- Store the product away from direct sunlight and in places with high temperatures and humidity.
- If you have other alcohol you want to sell, we recommend selling them in bulk.
However, at Linkus, we also evaluate whiskeys without boxes or accessories, or whose condition is questionable. The price will be lower than for complete items, but they can still be worth a high price, so please feel free to contact us.
Buy whiskey here
summary
Released as the successor to Hibiki 17 Year Old, Hibiki Blender's Choice is popular for its fruity, gorgeous aroma and easy-to-drink taste that appeals to everyone. The price is over 10,000 yen, but compared to the aged Hibiki, the price is not so high, so it is recommended as an introduction to rich whiskey.Although this is a bottle intended for use in restaurants, you may be able to find it at liquor stores if you look around, so be sure to check it out.