The list of discontinued classic Japanese whiskies is long. And many enthusiasts are right to ask: is Hibiki 21 discontinued too? The short answer is no, Hibiki 21 is not discontinued.

But it’s a reasonable question to ask.

Supply and Demand Gone Crazy

The supply of Hibiki 21 is very limited. If you’ve been into Japanese whisky for a while, you’ll remember that it was somewhat easy to find. Now, instead of looking locally, you’re searching for retailers nationally.

And retailers are charging an arm and a leg for the Hibiki 21 that’s available.

In October of 2014, a 750 ml cost just $300*. In October of 2015, the price averaged $500-$600. And by early 2017, the retail price was an inflated $600-$800 US.

Today, Hibiki 21 costs around $1400! And some shady retailers are charging a lot more.

*Source: Wayback Machine archives of wine-searcher.com

Discontinued Hibiki Whisky

In 2015, Suntory announced it was discontinuing Hibiki 12. This was a big blow to long-time Japanese whisky enthusiasts. And in 2018, Hibiki 17 and Hakushu 12 became the next marquee whiskies to get 86d.

Meanwhile, rival Nikka pruned all of its age statement whiskies.

How long before Hibiki 21 is discontinued? And what caused this mess?

Let’s start with the latter question.

What Caused the Explosion of Japanese Whisky?

It started back in the 1990s. Demand for Japanese whisky was poor. And many distilleries closed. The two industry giants, Suntory and Nikka, seriously cut back production to survive.

But the industry didn’t stay down for long. The quality of Japanese whisky remained high. And word got out.

Suntory and Nikka received numerous international whisky awards. Lost in Translation was a big hit. And a whole new audience became interested in Japanese whisky.

Demand kept building. But the supply of Japanese whisky was limited. So to supply a thirsty market, several iconic labels were cut.

*As an affiliate advertiser for Etsy, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases.

Will Suntory Discontinue Hibiki 21 Next?

It’s unlikely. Suntory decided to get rid of Hibiki 12 and 17 instead. And it released Hibiki Japanese Harmony to replace the 12-year. Hibiki 21 has survived the cull, and it’s likely Suntory has prioritized keeping it alive.

Furthermore, for at least a decade, Suntory has increased production. It will still be some time before they’re caught up. But they temporarily discontinued Hakushu 12 in 2018 and have already brought it back.

It will still take years, but I think more Hibiki 21 is on the way.

Learn More About Hibiki 21

If you love this whisky, check out my Hibiki 21 review. I cover everything from how it’s made, what it tastes like, where to find it, and its current price.