Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master's Select

Profile: The Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master's Select at a glance

• Hibiki Master's Select - harmony in a bottle (without Zen clichés, I promise)
• Blended with precision - like clockwork, only smoother
• The bottle has 24 facets - for 24 hours of whisky aesthetics
• Born at Suntory - Japan's answer to the Highlands
• Duty-free diva with a global fan base

Portrait: What makes the Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master's Select special

When you think of Japanese perfection, you might think of sushi. Or the Shinkansen. Or a robot that folds origami. But whisky? Yes, absolutely – at least since the Japanese decided they wanted to have a say in whisky. And Hibiki is something like the elegant whisper in this conversation.

The Hibiki brand was introduced in 1989 by the renowned Suntory Distillery – as a celebratory gift for the company's 90th anniversary. It's basically: "Congratulations to us – here's a world-class whisky." And as befits Japanese hospitality, the bottle was designed with 24 facets – one for each hour of the day. Or, as some say, for each season of the Japanese lunar calendar. Multifaceted, indeed. Both visually and in terms of content.

The Master's Select is, so to speak, the tuxedo of Hibiki bottlings: elegant, subtly extravagant, and with international ambitions. Originally intended exclusively for duty-free retail (yes, some people fly just to buy it), it can now also be found in well-stocked bars – alongside its Scottish cousins, who remain suspiciously respectfully silent.

By the way, "Hibiki" translates as "resonance" or "echo." A fitting name for a whisky that lingers in the memory for more than just a fleeting moment.

What remains? A whisky like a haiku: short, elegant, and with surprising depth. And yes – somehow typically Japanese.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master's Select tastes like

• Nose: Tropical fruits, especially mango and papaya, with fragrant lemon blossoms and juicy raisins - a distinct hint of vanilla and oak in the background
• Palate: Creamy in the taste with notes of chocolate and orange, followed by dried fruits, especially apricots and raisins - all with a light hint of cinnamon
• Finish: Long finish, again with chocolate, with plums and cane sugar - followed by spicy ginger