Japan Archives - First Pour Cocktails

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Nick

Sometimes you get lured in by the concept or the bottle. When I first started my spirits journey, I admittedly started in scotch. My grandfather drank it, my father would drink it, and so I wanted to drink it as well. As a result, I started with Johnnie Walker Black, but this gave way to Lagavulin 16 and other smokier offerings. Exploring available options, I eventually went on to work with a professor as my college to develop a Whiskeys of the World independent study. Among the sections we created, was Japanese Whiskey, and where I first encountered Hibiki Japanese Harmony.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Sight: Deep Gold

Smell: The nose is laced with lighter wood tones (perhaps this is what they’re referencing as sandalwood) with elements of rose and lychee. There are touches of tangerine, rosemary, and light honey. That floral background goes with just a hint of vanillin, and a little bit of heat. That floralness almost gives off a bit of extra fruit.

Sip: The mouthfeel is smooth, soft, and round with a very silky texture. The flavors of lychee, rose, white chocolate, and a perfumed -incense like wood come through in spades. There’s a creaminess that almost has a little orange and honey in it.

Savor: The end carries forward the rose, some jasmine, honey, and a hint of oak. The finish lingers with an oaky, perfumy tone that’s delicately seductive.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony is subtle, soft, and gentle. It entices you with a beautiful delicacy, while still providing full flavor at a relatively low proof. The warmth of the wood and intricate floral tones are a winding trip across the palate. The touches of oak and honey on the finish make for something that lingers pleasantly without being aggressive. Overall, it’s a beautiful whiskey that wants you to muse about it’s beauty rather than pounce on it.

In Cocktails

In a highball the smoothness manages to persist with some lighter floral notes (still rose forward) and lots of gentle toasted wood notes. It loses a bit of the depth, but still manages some subtle candied orange people and white chocolate notes. The overall impression is an easy going drink, that has some complexity, but not a lot of depth.

In Review – Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a beautiful whiskey to enjoy neat that really shines with a softness and pleasant mix of floral flavors. It’s easy to like, has a good depth of flavor, and only really faulters at the price. Long ago, this whiskey used to be somewhere closer to the $80-90 price point. In the state of Ohio, at the time of writing this, it’s up to $125. This whiskey is really nice, but it’s not really $100+ a bottle nice. That said, it still can be found in that price point. If you find that you like lighter scotch or Japanese whiskey, than this is one that deserves some consideration.

Suntory Whiskey Toki

Posted on March 25, 2022March 21, 2022 by Nick

Suntory Whisky Toki – more commonly referenced as Suntory Toki – is best known for its sterling reputation of making elevated Highballs. It’s made from a blend from Suntory’s three distilleries, Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita, primarily featuring the later two’s grain whiskeys. Suntory is specifically focused on blending with the whisky, aiming to show what can be done with each of the distilleries’ spirits. Unlike some of Suntory’s other highly sought after whiskies, you should be able to find Toki easily and at a price that won’t break the bank. So how is it?

Suntory Whisky Toki

Sight: Pale straw fringing into corn.

Smell: Apple skins, malt, and spices open up with a hint of heat. A strong floral note comes in and touches of orange marmalade join in. Caramel and lemon have element notes in the background as well.

Sip: The flavor is gentle, malted, with hints of honey and caramel. Touches of wet slate, minerality, lemon pith, and flowers come in. The body is light, slightly warm. There are hints of spice, nut, and other elements toward the background.

Savor: The ending picks up a certain amount of aged wood and malt. There are elements of salinity and minerality, and caramel flavor. Specifically caramel flavor because it isn’t a sweet caramel.

Suntory Whisky Toki is fine. The flavor profile is gentle and subtle. The blending of the whiskey has a good impact on how the flavors layer, although they aren’t particularly interesting or enticing. As a neat whiskey, we’d recommend most other whiskeys. Toki also isn’t normally associated with drinking neat.

In Cocktails

Suntory Whisky Toki is frequently referenced as one of the best whiskeys for use in a Highball. In our experience, the highball brought out malt and cereal notes from the Suntory Toki. The apple notes become more subtle, while the floral elements are given more room to operate. Caramel and spice move into the background and work well with the minerality. The Toki actually helps the drink become an extension of itself. The subtle nature that helps it work in a highball is an indicator in this scenario that it plays better with other similarly gentle flavors.

In Review – Suntory Whisky Toki

Overall, Suntory Whisky Toki has a place in cocktails, but the rest of the value will be determined by the value you place on Japanese Whiskey. Most classic cocktails do not call for Japanese Whiskey, and it isn’t the most versatile ingredient, working well in more subtle, gentle cocktails. When served neat, it communicates much the same way, in an elegant and mild sort of way. The price point puts it right in line with most entry level Japanese Whiskeys and it’s widely available, making it the most common choice. All that said, we still recommend that try it before you buy it.