Isle of Arran Distillery

Located between the Kintyre Peninsula and Mainland Scotland, the Isle of Arran was without a legal working distillery for over 150 years until the Arran Distillery was founded in 1994 in Lochranza at the north end of the island. Now, in 2019, a sister distillery, Lagg, is operating in the south. Historically, Arran has released some really outstanding single casks and average everything else.  So, let's see where they rate today when showcased in flights of the core range and single casks.

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 10 Year Old

Background: Arran's initial core range age statement expression, first available in 2006.  From the bottle code, it looks like this particular offering was bottled in 2016.  So, assuming 2005/06 distillate.

Stats:  Alcohol By Volume (ABV) = 46%.

Tasting Notes: This was an impressive 10 Year.  Sometimes low expectations can really work towards your advantage, eh?  A honey cotton candy nose followed by sweet apricot taste.  And a nice long finish.  Very pleased that 46% ABV appears to be the distillery's minimum after their early No Age Statement (NAS) releases were fairly weak at 43%.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Pour?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 2
 14 Year Old

Background:  Older bottling - possibly from the initial offering of the 14 Year expression as the bottle code indicates a 2010 bottling which makes the whisky likely from 1995/96 distillate.

Stats: ABV = 46%
.

Tasting Notes: The aroma is much flatter than the 10.  That cotton candy note from before is apparent on the taste this time.  But overall, fairly uninteresting.  This is actually what I anticipated from the 10 Year.  Perhaps the distillate from 2006 improved immensely over the 10+ years from 1995, at least for these two core products.  Looks like the the 14 Year is now discontinued.  Maybe it's for the best.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 3
 18 Year Old

Background: The regular edition 18, first released in 2016, not to be confused with the Limited Edition white label 18 Year Old from 2015. Bottled in 2018 which equates to 1999/2000 distillate.

Stats: ABV = 46%.  
 

Tasting Notes: A soft. flowery, fruity nose.  Subtle sherry notes come through on the taste as well along with light chocolate.  A little too smooth, if there is such a thing.  The easy drinking nature of this one could be dangerous.  

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 21 Year Old

 

Background: The first distillery offering of a 21 Year, limited to 9000 bottles and so far none have been distributed in the USA.  However, it's a very reasonably priced for single malt of this age - even if you have to pay for overseas shipping.

Stats: ABV = 46%. 
 

Tasting Notes: From its appearance, I was expecting a similar  flavor profile as the 18.  Surprisingly, it wasn't sherry that hit me this time, but bourbon notes.  Oily, buttery Irish Cream.  Short finish, however.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
  22 Year Old

Background: There might be an older Arran out there, but not many.  Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange and limited to 324 bottles.

Stats: 1996 Vintage. ABV = 50.4%.
 Sherry Hogshead.  Cask #81.

Tasting Notes: Back to the soft and flowery sherry nose.  Too light on the chocolate notes. The impression across the board is so subtle, it's almost dull.  I've had some younger single cask sherry Arran in the past that would blow this one away.  Had high expectations for this one, and it fell flat.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	NO	NO

Expression 2
   Thompson's 18 Year Sauternes Finish

Background: Not too familiar with this French independent bottler.  Besides a couple blends, the only thing that Thompson's has apparently released are four Arran single casks, including this one.  Arran has always had a single cask program available to all, so perhaps they bought four casks back in 1996 and finished them all in Sauternes to launch their brand.

Stats:  1996 Vintage. ABV = 52.9%.
 Cask #1834

Tasting Notes: Sweet white wine on the nose.  A soft, oily mouthfeel and a bit of maple syrup and raisins on the finish.  Nice, but not so memorable.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 3
Lochranza 22 Year Private Cask

Background: 1996 must have been a banner year for the Arran Single Cask Program.  Most private casks remain private, but some make it to retail or auction.

Stats: 1996 Vintage. ABV = 50.2%. Cask #1511

Tasting Notes: No cask information, but I'll take a stab and go with Re-charred ex-sherry with it's smokey sweet nose pairing with maple syrup notes.  The taste is leathery and meaty.  Barbeque smoke.  Very interesting.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 SMWS 121.102

Background: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been bottling single casks for its members since 1983. They use code numbers where the first set of digits refer to a specific distillery and the second set of numbers equate to the single cask itself.  So, this is their 102nd single cask from Arran, titled A Fruity Fruition, aged for over 18 years.

Stats: ABV = 53.4%. 1st Fill Charred Ex-Red Wine Barrique.

Tasting Notes: A berry, fruity nose give way to complex traditional red wine notes.  Clean and sweet and then it gets meaty.  Nutty and woody on the finish.  Complex!

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]

Nikka From The Barrel

Launched in the mid-1980s, Nikka From the Barrel (NFTB) is a “go to” everyday Japanese Whisky for many. While most modern Japanese whiskies clock in between 40-45% alcohol by volume (ABV), NFTB boldly reaches for 51.4%. Apparently, that’s 90 Proof in Ye Olde England, so not as random as it may seem.  (For extra credit, if you want to solve Her Majesty’s Proofage multiplier, consider that Glenfarclas 105 is 60% ABV.)  Lastly, not only is it complex and delicious with over 100 unique whiskies in the blend, NFTB is a bargain AND available…at least, outside the United States.

Limited Edition
3000ml  (2014)

North Americans usually discover NFTB when someone else brings it back from some far-off land.  When that happened for me, I was hooked.  Thereafter, whenever myself or a friend was visiting Europe or Japan, it’s a guarantee that we would be bringing back as many of those 500ml block-shaped bottles as we could.  But that wasn’t enough, so ordering it online and often was the next step down a slippery slope.  By the time I discovered that Nikka had released a whopping 3 Liter Edition in Europe in 2014 to celebrate Nikka’s 80th Anniversary, I HAD to have it! I mean, it comes with its own custom glass valinch, for crying out loud. But the real question was when would this glorious whisky finally be made available in the United States?

At last, in the fall of 2018, the first 750ml bottling of NFTB hit the US for around $65.  Fans snatched it up and it was quickly sold out at the major chains.  Next, it was allocated, which resulted in higher prices.  And then Whisky Advocate Magazine named it their Whisky of the Year to guarantee that it would be impossible to find!  Hopefully Nikka produces enough to meet demand soon. And that hoarders stop hoarding. And that bloggers stop mentioning how tasty and affordable it is.  D'oh!

So why did it take so long for Nikka to accommodate the US market with this product? The first thing that comes to mind is the current scarcity of Japanese-distilled whisky in general. But this is a blend after all, and Nikka’s whisky shortages really only apply to their single malt selections.  Moreover, that would not have even been a factor to consider 5+ years ago.  Additionally, Nikka Coffey Grain has been available for years, so why not the superior NFTB?

I think it comes down to volume and tradition.  Part of NFTB's appeal is that it is a half liter brick of whisky and has always followed that format, saving a few special one-off releases like the aforementioned 3L behemoth.  However, 500ml bottles are not currently acceptable for spirits in these United States, nor has it been since the 1980s. It took a while, but Anchor/Hotaling Imports must have finally convinced Nikka to create a 750ml block bottle for North America.

And finally, much to my (and I'm sure almost everyone's) surprise, 2018 was NOT the first time that Nikka From The Barrel was distributed in the USA. NFTB was actually available back in the late 1980s. The 500ml format was outlawed in the United States in the middle of 1989, but not before Wine of Japan Imports released a few cases.  Who knew??  So, after a 30 Year absence, welcome back, Nikka From The Barrel!  Now get back on our shelves!!

WINE FINISH SINGLE MALTS
+ CHEESE PAIRING

Eight malt whiskies from all over the UK and Ireland, all finished in a different type of wine cask, then each paired with unique cheeses.  Swanky.

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 Glen Moray Elgin Classic Chardonnay

AGED ENGLISH CHEDDAR
 

Background: Speysider that produces mild entry level single malts as well as distillate for blends.  The Elgin Classic series features different wine finishes including Sherry and Port, plus a Peated expression.

Stats:  ABV = 40%. Finished in Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes: The white wine Chardonnay notes hit you right away on the nose. Taste is light while some acidity punches through.  Not much of a finish.

With Cheese: The Aged English Cheddar boosts the whisky into something meatier, a fuller mouth feel.  Definite improvement.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Pour?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 2
 Oban Distillers Edition 15 Year
 SPANISH SMOKED SHEEP

Background:  
Named after the Highland resort town in which it operates, Oban is best known for their 14 Year Old expression which Diageo makes sure is in every airport, hotel bar, and Costco in the world.

Stats: 1999 Vintage. ABV = 43%
.  Finished Montilla Fino. 

Tasting Notes: The Fino Sherry provides some interesting chocolate and coffee flavors not present in their 14 Year.

With Cheese: The Spanish Smoke Sheep Cheese brings some briny notes to the forefront, which was surprising, perhaps due to the smoke of the cheese, as well as enhancing the coffee notes.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 3
 Green Spot Chateau Montelena
 SOFT GOAT w/ CUCUMBER + JALAPENO

Background: The Spot Whiskies are some of the few Single Pot Still expressions from Ireland.  Owned by Mitchell and Son, the whisky  is comparable to Redbreast, which makes sense since the spirit is produced at Midleton.

Stats: ABV = 46%. Finished in Zinfandel. 
 

Tasting Notes: With only a minimal jump in the alcohol volume, the nose was hotter than expected.  Taste is a lovely balance between floral and fruity. Slightly nutty on the finish.

With Cheese: The spicy jalapeno really brings out the wine notes.  Good pairing.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 4
 Arran Trebbiano Casks
ITALIAN SHEEP TRUFFLE 


 

Background: When other distilleries were closing or remained closed in the 1990s, Arran became fully operational in 1995 on the island that is its namesake.  Their product is often varied and adventurous, but usually solid to outstanding.  

Stats: ABV = 54.6%. Finished in Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. 
 

Tasting Notes: Big and buttery on the nose with ever-changing baking spices. There's just a lot going on with this whisky.  The Trebbiano wine cask is a new one - getting a lot of mocha notes.

With Cheese: Another good pairing with this medium strong cheese enhancing and expanding on the oil and butter.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
  Tullibardine 228
SWISS COW

Background: Speaking of closed distilleries, Tullibardine was mothballed the same year Arran opened, but resumed production in 2003.  Classic Highland profile.

Stats: ABV = 43%. Finished in Burgandy. 
 

Tasting Notes: A light floral nose.  On first taste, the expected light milk chocolate notes come through and kept building and building with subsequent sips.

With Cheese: Good cheese and good whisky, but neither really had an affect on the other.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 2
   Caol Ila Distillers Edition 11 Year
STILTON BLUE CHEEE

Background: Founded in 1846 and located at Port Askaig on Islay, the bulk of Caol Ila's distillate goes to blends like Johnnie Walker and Compass Box.  

Stats:  2000 Vintage. ABV = 43%. Finished in Moscatel.
 

Tasting Notes: The nose is perfect peated perfection.  Taste is exactly what you would want: barbecue shrimp on the beach.  Smokey slate finish.  Really don't get a lot of Moscatel notes, however.

With Cheese: Oh there it is - Now the wine sweetness comes through with a little bit of Stilton Cheese.  An essential compliment, apparently.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
Penderyn Madeira Finish
FRENCH TRIPLE CREAM CHEESE

Background: Welsh whisky was kind of a big deal for hundreds of years, but that all came to an end at the close of the 19th century.  Whisky making was dormant in Wales for over a hundred years until Penderyn started distilling in 2004.  

Stats: ABV = 46%. Finished in Madeira. 

Tasting Notes: Apprehensive about Welsh whisky?  Don't be.  Penderyn is surprisingly excellent.  This expression has a nice floral nose, rich and spicy taste with a hint of malt.  Well-balanced, the finish is long and warm with honeydew melon.

With Cheese: This awesome cream cheese makes anything better, but no need because the whisky is outstanding on its own.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 Longrow Red 11 Year
DRUNKEN GOAT CHEESE

Background: Originally, Longrow was a Campbeltown distillery that closed in the early 1900s.  Springbank has been using the name for branding their heavily peated spirit for years now .

Stats: Bottled 2014. ABV = 53.7%. Finished in Australian Shiraz.
 

Tasting Notes: Classic Longrow peat on first nosing, then rich Shiraz floral notes.  The taste is complex as you'd expect, diving in and out of rich red fruits, into wood and vanilla, and finishing with some salty peat.

With Cheese: Drunken Goat Cheese is a perfect match since it spent some time drowning in red wine itself.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]

GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALTS

Last Winter, Diageo teamed up with HBO to unleash 8 single malts, each representing a Major House of Westeros, plus the watchers on the wall.  Which whisky will sit the Iron Throne??

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 The Singleton of Glendullan Select

HOUSE TULLY
 

Background: The Singleton is an unusual brand for 3 different distilleries: Glendullan, Glen Ord, and Dufftown.
It has been argued that the treachery and the poor decisions of House Tully make them the most important family in the entire series.  Hoster Tully's daughter, Lysa Arryn poisoned her husband which led to Ned Stark leaving the safety of the North.  Meanwhile, Lysa's sister, Catelyn Stark, imprisoned both of Tywin Lannister's sons, Tyrion and Jamie.  The former was falsely accused which led to war as well as the beheading of her husband, Ned.  The latter was justly captured, but Catelyn let him go which resulted in dissension and defeat of the Northern Army, as well as her death and her son's death.

Stats:   ABV = 40%. Unique Expression.

Tasting Notes: Light and malty.  This puts the 'Dull' in Glendullan.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Pour?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 2
 Royal Lochnagar 12 Year
 HOUSE BARATHEON

Background:  
The Lochnagar Distillery became Royal following a visit from Queen Victoria in 1848. The distillate is primarily used for blending in Johnnie Walker.  A single malt release is a rarity outside the UK.
As of this writing, House Baratheon is a family of one, ex-bastard, Gendry Baratheon.  

Stats: ABV = 40%
 

Tasting Notes: One of two age statement expressions in the series and it shows.  Even at bare minimum ABV, this whisky is surprisingly complex.  Nice range of baking spices.  Definitely benefitted from tasting after the Glendullan.  The complexity may go unnoticed, however, if it followed after another offering.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
 Cardhu Gold Reserve
 HOUSE TARGARYEN

Background: Another distillery that sees most of its spirit go to Johnnie Walker blends, although a standard 12 Year single malt is regularly available worldwide from this Speysider.
Just like Baby Superman, the Targaryens fled their home just prior to its ultimate destruction. They permanently settled at their vacation island of Dragonstone and then conquered Westeros because Dragons.

Stats: ABV = 40%. Unique Expression. 
 

Tasting Notes: Starting to think that Diageo gave the least interesting whiskies to the most popular houses.  A soft malty nose, very smooth taste, and a little hint of spice on the finish.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 4
 Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost
HOUSE STARK 


 

Background: Similar to Glenfarclas and Macallan, Dalwhinnie labels their product was Highland Single Malt even though they fall within the Speyside region.  

Early on, the Starks were dying left and right. Winterfell fell into enemy's hands not once but twice.  But now there's actually more Starks these days than there are Baratheons and Targaryens and possibly Lannisters, plus their home is once again their own.  The North Remembers how to survive.

Stats: ABV = 43%. Unique Expression. 
 

Tasting Notes: There's a little more going on here, perhaps assisted by the slightly higher ABV.  Malty sweetness and spice present, but not the complexity of the Lochnagar.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
  Oban Bay Reserve
NIGHT'S WATCH

Background: Best known for their smooth and appealing 14 Year expression, Oban also produces a No Age Statement (NAS) Little Bay.  So, this release is most likely an offshoot of that.
The watchers on the wall protect the realms of men from the White Walkers.  But after hundreds of years and no White Walkers, they forgot their mission and hassled Wildlings instead.  Good thing Jon Snow came along to remind them of the true enemy. 

Stats: ABV  43%. Unique Expression. 
 

Tasting Notes: Big range on the nose - peppery and spicy.  Taste is sharper and more interesting to me than the 14 Year - nutty and meaty.  A youthful spirit that hasn't been tamed from too much time in the wood. 

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 2
   Talisker Select Reserve
HOUSE GREYJOY

Background: Founded in 1830 on the Isle of Skye, the entire distillery had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1960. 
The Greyjoy's are the Viking Pirates of Westeros.  They don't really have any long term goals, but are fully committed to not sowing. Their home is a series of islands connected by suspect wooden bridges. Kinda like the Isle of Skye?

Stats:  45.8%. Unique Expression.
 

Tasting Notes: Brown sugar, salt, and peat on the nose.  Taste is briny and smokey, but not as full of flavor as comparable Islays, with a salty finish.  I'm not naturally drawn to peated whiskies, so I've had to pay the iron price in order to appreciate a few like this one with its classic Talisker profile.  

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
Lagavulin 9 Year
HOUSE LANNISTER

Background: The distillery has long produced their classic 16 Year expression to the delight of many, especially Ron Swanson.  However, there are still folks out there who think the pronunciation of Lagavulin  rhymes with javelin.  It does not.  Nor is this whisky from IZ-Lay.

Lagavulin barely edged Clynelish
to win the Iron Throne!

Since the Lannisters live on the mainland, seems like Diageo should have switched the Houses for Cardhu and Lagavulin.  The golden hair of the Lannisters would have paired nicely with Cardhu's golden elixir.  Targaryens historically live on an island.  Oh well.  

Stats: ABV = 46%. Unique Expression. 

Tasting Notes: Classic Lag nose of salt, peat, and chocolate.  Palate is the anticipated seaside shrimp barbecue.  Well balanced and meaty!  Effervescent finish with a touch of spice.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 4
 Clynelish Reserve 
HOUSE TYRELL

Background: A tale of two distilleries. The original Clynelish that began operating in 1819 eventually became known as Brora and the new Clynelish was built across the street in 1968. Both operated concurrently for a short time before Brora was closed in 1983. However, Brora was never mothballed or demolished and has been warehousing casks.  And now, Brora is set to re-open in 2020!
The Tyrell Family is dead and that cutthroat Bronn may become Lord of Highgarden.  Lady Olenna is rolling in her grave.

Stats: ABV = 51.2%. Unique Expression.
 

Tasting Notes: A marshmallow spicy nose gives way to bold and malty taste with a hint of chocolate on the finish.  The second sip brings out oily bell pepper.  Finally a higher ABV with delicious complexities.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]

A Brief History of Hibiki

1991 Advertisement

1989 Box Art

Suntory introduced their first Hibiki Whisky in April 1989, released to celebrate the 90^th Anniversary of the company.  The No Age Statement (NAS) premium blend at 43% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) carried a suggested retail price of ¥10,000.  Designated as “a masterful blend of specially aged whiskies with a mature full-bodied taste” on the front, the back label further elaborates that the contents are a mix of 30 different whiskies.  The unique bottle, with its 24 facets that reflect the hours in the day as well as all the ‘small seasons’ in the year, sported a medallion, a gold cap stopper, all packaged in a luxurious box.   

Originally, I assumed that Hibiki was Suntory’s answer to Johnnie Walker Blue, the worldwide big time premium blended whisky.  But the Blue wasn’t launched until 1992.  Turns out Hibiki was most likely a response to in-country rival Nikka and their Taketsuru Fortune ’80 premium blend.

2000 European Bottle + Box

In the 1990s, Hibiki made its way to the United States retailing for around $50, but appeared to have had little impact, with a similar story in Europe.  The stopper updated from gold cap to a faceted clear stopper, more in line with the bottle design.  In 1994, Hibiki 21 Year debuted, followed by Hibiki 30 Year in 1997.  And around this time, the original Hibiki NAS went from a mix of 30 different elements to 36 unique whiskies in the blend. 

2002 Japanese Label

At the turn of century, all Hibiki expressions transition from being labeled as “masterful blend” to “harmonious blend” – likely to be more in accord with the theme of sound surrounding the name. Hibiki translates to echo, music, sound, reverberation and space.  Also getting updated was the original NAS into an age-stated 17 year old.  In fact, the UPC barcode that had been used since the mid-1990s didn’t even change during this transition.  So, this is where confusion comes into play whether the original Hibiki was a 17-year expression all along.  I don’t believe it was.  I’m sure Suntory would have stated an age from the beginning if it qualified as such.  Not only was this common practice worldwide at the time, but that’s the case for other Suntory releases as well.

The highlight of this period for Hibiki has to be when the 17 Year Old was prominently featured in the motion picture, Lost In Translation.  Filmed in the fall of 2002, there's a frustratingly funny scene with Bill Murray as Bob Harris filming a commercial where he has to deliver a tagline, with intensity.  "For relaxing times, make it Suntory Time." 

A couple new expressions rounded out the decade.  First was the short-lived Non-Chill Filtered 50.5% ABV Hibiki 17, definitely ahead of its time.  In 2009, Hibiki 12 entered the scene and showcased whisky aged in ex-plum wine casks which was unique for the brand. Additionally, this was the decade where Hibki started to win awards in worldwide competitions. Hibiki 30 won multiple awards including Best Blended Whisky from World Whiskies Awards in 2007 and 2008.

Kacho Edition Version 2

The infamous Kacho Fugetsu editions started appearing at Duty Free shops in 2010.  The bottle and box of these Limited Editions of the 12, 17, 21, and 30 Year were uniquely designed to embody the beauty of Japanese nature.  In 2013, a couple Japanese bar-only releases, Deep Harmony and Mellow Harmony, could have been a precursor experiment that lead to the NAS Harmony in 2015 - which was also the same year that saw the discontinuation of the 12 Year expression.  Duty Free shops is also where you can find both the regular and Kacho editions of the Hibiki Harmony Master's Select, which is a slightly different blend than the regular release. 

The oldest Hibiki expression is the 35 Year Old, last released in 2016.  It's super limited and comes in unique ceramic bottles.  The 17 and 21 Year won a bunch of awards during the 2010s as well.  And another bar-only release came out in Japan in 2018, dubbed Blenders Choice.  Sadly, Hibiki 17 production has been suspended, another victim of dwindling aged whiskies in Japan.
2019 marks the 30th Anniversary of the brand -- Happy Birthday Hibiki!

 Milestone Whisk(e)y Resource Page

Do you or the whisky enthusiast in your life have an upcoming ‘Milestone’ life event, such as a significant birthday (21, 30, 40, 50, etc.) or a baby on the way?  Consider skipping the normal routine and reach for a scotch or bourbon that can truly celebrate the occasion in an epic way.  Having just had a milestone birthday myself, there’s nothing like cracking a bottle that is as old as you are.



Say your usual plan is to buy a $40 bottle for someone’s 40th birthday – why not take the initiative and pool friends and family in advance to contribute forty bucks each to a big-time bottle?  Friends and family will be happy they don’t have to think about what to get the recipient.  The recipient will be ecstatic over their $400+ bottle from his or her benefactors.  And you’ll be the hero when everyone enjoys that Classic Cask 40-Year-Old Blended Whiskey!


Turning 21?

Mid-2000s 'Golden G' Bottling

At that age, I was mixing cheap rum or bourbon with coca cola, so it might be dicey gifting a 21-year-old a two hundred dollar bottle of Balvenie 21.  But if someone would have told me that I couldn’t open it until I was ready to appreciate a fine single malt, I may have stowed it away. Maybe.

If you’re after bourbon, Orphan Barrel’s Rhetoric 21 and Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig 21 come to mind.  Unfortunately, both are out of production, and likely pricier than other options, like the aforementioned Balvenie Portwood. There’s always the ever-present Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan –aka dull, boring, and expensive, respectively.  Redbreast 21 is my all-time favorite Irish Whiskey, but even that's now over $200. Plus, quite a few excellent options exist under that amount.  The best value in this (and almost every) category will be Glenfarclas.  But there’s also some great deals to be had from independent bottlers like Gordon And MacPhail, whose Linkwood 21 is around the same price point as the 'Farclas ($150).

30/40/50th Birthdays
No realistic bourbon or rye or Irish options at these milestones, so, scotch it is! Again, Glenfarclas or independents are the way to go.  In addition to G/M, quality indy bottlers include Alexander Murray, Douglas Laing, Duncan Taylor, and Signatory Vintage, among others.

50 Year Old Douglas Laing Bottling
From "Probably Speyside's Finest"
(i.e. Glenfarclas)

In the 30 Year Old category, the distillery bottling of Glenfarclas  is around $500, While that particular expression is unavailable in the USA, it can be easily ordered via online retailers in the UK.  In the $300 range, an excellent independent single malt can be had without much difficulty.  Plus single grains and blends are out there at half that number.

At 40 years, prices are going up, but not as crazy as you might think.  Glenfarclas 40 is around $1000, but Alexander Murray's Speyside Single Malt is in the $5-600 range. (In this case the distillery is an unnamed distillery in that region,  and not THE Speyside Distillery.)  Single Grains and Blends can be found in the $250-400 range even, like the aforementioned Classic Cask.

Once you get to 50, there's really no single malt below $1000. Single grains can still be had for well under $500, however.  If you really want a single malt for the occasion, though, another avenue is seeking out a bottle that was distilled in the recipient's birth year.  That's actually something to consider for any of the prior milestone birthdays as well.  For example, this is being written in 2019, and there are excellent vintages from 1969, 1979, and 1989 out there in the $200-800 range.  The individual bottle will just be aged less than 50, 40, and 30 years, respectively.

Exact Dates

G/M Mortlach Single Cask 5972

And then there's the hunt for a bottle of whisk(e)y that was either barreled or bottled on a specific birthday or anniversary.  One would have to get pretty lucky to find a match, especially since this information really only occurs on single casks/barrels.  It's a longshot, but it is possible.

Blanton's Original
Single Barrel Bourbon

The easiest path for this quest is Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon.  Blanton's has been around since 1984 and every bottle has a "dumped on" or bottling date in this format: 2-14-17.  So if your daughter was born on Valentine's Day 2017, or you got married that day, there's a Blanton's out there for you!  In fact, there appears to be hundreds of unique bottling dates per year between the original expression and their international editions (Gold, Black, Green, Straight From The Barrel).  Chances are good that you can actually find the date you're looking for, as long as you're comfortable making new friends on various social media outlets that cater to this sort of thing.

Close Up of Blanton's with 'Dumped On' Date