Hibiki 17 Years Old (43%, OB, 2014)

• 43% ABV,
• £89 for 70cl
• Score: 84/100

What they say:

17 Years.

Elegant. Poised. Slowly revealing a clear yet complex equilibrium.

Color: amber
Nose: peach, apricot, melon, rose, lily, lemon leaf
Palate: toffee, black cherry, vanilla, and Mizunara (Japanese oak)
Finish: sweet, fruity, and lychee aftertaste

What I say:

The second youngest in the Hibiki blend range after the 12 year old, and which also comprises of the 21 and 30 year old expressions. Presented at the Water Of Life Society Suntory Tasting 2014.

Colour:

Full amber gold, with thick/heavy tears

Nose:

Deep cereal wheat, and barley malt, honey, golden syrup, light spices, apricot, quince, toffee, caramel, new leather handbag

Taste:

Toffee and oak, spiced, nutmeg, pepper, floral, fragrant rose, peach and apricot, very light and delicate

Finish:

Medium, slightly drying, fragrant/perfumed

Overall:

The Hibiki 17 year old blend has a much more pronounced richer sugar nature (toffee) and some tannic overtones from the extra ageing or perhaps a greater percentage of the blend is made from Sherry-matured stock? This has a more robust nature than the 12 year old and has the body to be drammed as it is, requiring neither mixers or dilution. Perhaps some of the youthfull/floral nature from the 12yo is lacking, suggestive of a different palate built specifically by the blender – it would be wrong to assume this is the 12yo with an extra 5 years maturation – this is clearly a different blend altogether