Suntory Hibiki 21yo

Suntory Hibiki 21yo

Suntory
Blend
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla, raisins, malted grains, cherry blossom, roast chicken, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, raisins, malted grains, leather, apples, cinnamon, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Leather, peat, smoke, apples, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Complex and luxurious, lots of cherry notes with sweet dried fruit, but also some smoky edges and on the finish, a distinct note of peat. Very layered and complicated, needs introspection.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Suntory Toki

Suntory Toki

Blended malt
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, chocolate, raisins, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, condensed milk, hints of caramel. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, black tea, raisins, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

A very light whisky, more floral than the descriptors I've written down above might lead one to believe. Excellent flavour, and I now understand the power of using Chita as the backbone of a blended whisky. Apparently a combination of Chita, Yamazaki and Hakushu, nothing more.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cloves, vanilla, soy sauce, black tea, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, soy sauce, caramel, orange juice, roast pork, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Soy sauce, roast pork, orange juice, black tea. 

Comments: 

Suntory blend, so made up of Yamazaki and Hakushu malts, and Chita grain. Plenty of Yamazaki in this, that sweet-salty, roast pork, soy sauce flavour is unmistakeable. It's raisiny sweet, slightly tannic, wonderfully light. Great sipping whisky, I could drink this all night, with an ice ball.

Verdict:

I like this.

Suntory Hibiki 12 yo

Suntory Hibiki 12 yo

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, plums, mint, cherries, roses, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mint, cherries, cream, mangoes, honey, hints of roses. 
Finish: Medium. Mint, cherries, cream. 

Comments: 

Fragrant, floral and fruity. There are some vegetal green notes, which I interpret as minty flavours, which go very well indeed with the sweet sour, creaminess of the dram. Very pleasant blend, the grain whisky that goes in must be really quite old!

Verdict:

I like this.

Suntory Hibiki 17 yo

Suntory Hibiki 17 yo

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden brown
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Soy sauce, raisins, oatcake, apricots, cucumber, hazelnuts, hints of peat, hints of sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Light body, water, expands.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Malty beer, apricots, raisins, hazelnuts, soy sauce, butter.
Finish: Medium. Butter, apricots.

Comments:

Mmm... flavour explosion! Very fruity, with some soy sauce notes that create a savoury counterpoint, overlaid with butter. If there is a weakness it's the finish, which is a little short and slightly too buttery. Great whisky, I don't care if it's a blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.