Hibiki12 Year
obtained via bottle swap w/ Bobby Childs
This is the first of about a dozen posts rolling out in the next few weeks...the long-delayed results of a bottle swap from several months ago between Bobby (of Adventures in Whiskey) and me!
Color: very pale gold
Smell: you'll often see "orchard fruit" as a tasting note, and this glass smells like you just mashed your finger into a succulent pear. Complementing this fresh, sweet fruit note is a hint of charred wood.
Taste: honeyed pear slices on entry. The midpalate brings in a pleasant kiss of smoke and then a wave of sherry flavors - sun dried raisins and toasted nuts most prominently. The finish is medium-length and driven more by this spiciness/chewiness than it is by the initial sweetness.Overall: I like this a lot...very solid B+/A- for me. While it's not a profound whisky, it does have good depth of flavors. I find it interesting that the sherry influence stays out of the nose for the most part, and then sneaks up in the midpalate and finish. Well balanced and smooth-sipping, this would be in my regular rotation if it was readily available at around $50. So, it's not... :(
Bobby's take is here.
