{"product_id":"hibiki-blenders-choice","title":"Hibiki Blender's Choice","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHibiki Blender's Choice is Suntory's answer to the discontinuation of Hibiki 17 — a blended Japanese whisky that incorporates wine cask-aged whiskies into the multi-distillery Hibiki framework (Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita), producing a round, fruit-forward profile with more immediate sweetness and approachability than the standard Harmony expression.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Hibiki 17 Year was discontinued in 2017 when the global Japanese whisky boom depleted Suntory's 17-year-minimum aged inventory faster than it could be replenished. Blender's Choice was developed as an NAS alternative positioned at a similar quality tier — using longer-aged components than Harmony but without the age-statement commitment that Hibiki 17 required. The wine cask-aged whiskies are the defining production distinction: Suntory produces Umeshu and other wine-adjacent products, and the wine-adjacent cask influence adds a rounder, more fruit-forward character than the standard five-cask Harmony maturation. Hibiki 名誉 (Meiyo) casks. The result is a whisky with more immediate richness than Harmony while occupying the position Hibiki 17 formerly held.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich and fruit-forward — the wine cask influence adding rounded sweetness over the standard Hibiki floral and Mizunara character\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full-bodied and harmonious — the wine cask contribution producing immense depth and a rounder, more approachable profile than Harmony\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and sustained — the fruit-forward wine cask character persisting through a clean, warm close\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suntory, Japan\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japanese Blended Whisky — NAS\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSources:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistinguishing feature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wine cask-aged whiskies blended in for round, fruit-forward depth\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 43% (86 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 700ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/japanese-foreign\"\u003eJapanese whisky at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhy was Hibiki 17 discontinued?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe global Japanese whisky boom of the 2010s depleted Suntory's 17-year-minimum aged inventory faster than production could replenish it. The 17 Year required spirit aged at least 17 years — once that stock was exhausted it could not be rapidly rebuilt. Hibiki Blender's Choice was developed as a quality NAS alternative for the same tier.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow does Blender's Choice differ from Hibiki Harmony?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eWine cask-aged whiskies are the key distinction. Harmony uses five cask types (American oak, sherry, Plum liqueur, Mizunara, and others). Blender's Choice adds wine cask-aged components that push the profile toward more immediate fruit sweetness and roundness — richer and more full-bodied than Harmony while sharing the same multi-distillery foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why was Hibiki 17 discontinued?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The global Japanese whisky boom depleted Suntory's 17-year-minimum aged inventory faster than production could replenish it. Blender's Choice was developed as a quality NAS alternative positioned at the same tier.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How does Blender's Choice differ from Hibiki Harmony?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Wine cask-aged whiskies are added to Blender's Choice, pushing the profile toward more immediate fruit sweetness and roundness than Harmony's five-cask framework. Richer and more full-bodied while sharing the same multi-distillery foundation.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Suntory","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42904164040775,"sku":"4901777321632","price":249.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/HibikiBlender_sChoice.png?v=1782421991","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/hibiki-blenders-choice","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}