Hibiki 21 is one of the world’s most sought-after blended whiskies. But if you’re striking out on finding a bottle, you’re not alone.
This post breaks down why this Suntory whisky is special. And it will teach you how to become a savvy buyer of Hibiki 21.
Table of Contents
Hibiki 21 Year Review
Hibiki 21 is a living legend within the Japanese whisky category. And it’s easily among the world’s most famous blended whiskies.
Suntory released Hibiki 21 and Hibiki 17 Year (semi-discontinued) in 1989.
It’s received significant fanfare since then. It’s even won the World’s Best Blended Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards a handful of times.
But all the hype has come with a price. As with most of Suntory’s elite whiskies, Hibiki 21 is now rare due to overwhelming demand. And if you can find it, prepare to fork over some serious cash! How much? I’ll cover that later.
But first, let’s look at how Hibiki 21 is made.
How is Hibiki 21 Made?
Hibiki whiskies blends whiskies from three Suntory distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita.
The bulk of Hibiki comes from the Chita Distillery (知多蒸溜所) in Aichi. Being mostly corn-based and column distilled, this grain portion adds lightness, soft texture, and fruit to the blend. The distillation run through the columns is rapid, which produces a heavier new make.
The Hakushu (白州) malt portion of the Hibiki blend is savory, mildly peaty, and crisp. Hakushu malt is known for its apple-like flavor, herbal notes, and mineral finish.
This contrasts with the Yamazaki (山崎) malt portion. Yamazaki adds deeper fruit, a silky texture, spice, and some backbone.
Suntory also produces multiple profiles of whisky at each of these three distilleries. Some are rich and powerful – others are light, aromatic, and clean. Suntory refers to these as Heavy Type, Medium Type, and Light Type.
It’s not just the quality of the malt and grain blending components that makes Hibiki 21 so delicious.
A diverse blend of cask types is used for aging. And this results in a complex tasting tour de force.
This 21-year bottling spends a lot of time in primo Japanese Mizunara casks. This is one reason for its elegance and unique perfume.
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Technical Info
Ingredient: corn, malted barley
ABV: 43%
Blend: column-distilled grain and various pot-distilled malts
Barrel: diverse, with various sizes of American white oak casks, Mizunara, ex-Sherry cask
Official Page (in Japanese)
Suntory Hibiki 21-Year-Old Price
The price for Hibiki 21 has been rising steadily for over a decade. Overall, the supply of this great blended whisky is good enough that it pays to shop around. On the retail side, Hibiki 21 will likely cost US $1300 minimum for a 750ml bottle.
A few years ago, the wholesale price was just under $200. And today, it’s more like $250. But that’s when Hibiki is available. Obviously, retailers are profiting heavily when they sell this whisky. So much so that Suntory doesn’t bother with an MSRP (in the US). The retail price is whatever someone is willing to pay.
If you want to try this whisky before taking the plunge on a whole bottle, restaurants and bars are the way to go. Many high-end places in the United States and Canada carry Hibiki 21.
You’re still going to have to spend some cash for a glass, though. A 1.5-ounce pour for $150 is a good deal.
How Much is Hibiki 21 in Japan?
The suggested retail price of Hibiki 21 (700ml) in Japan is 32,000 yen. This is roughly $246. But obviously, you’re never going to find a 21-year Hibiki for that price.
It’s possible to find a cheaper bottle in Japan but not easy. Expect to pay the equivalent of $1100-$1300 for a 700ml bottle.
Why is Hibiki 21 So Expensive?
Long before whisky walls were a ticket to social media followers, Japanese whisky wasn’t that popular. Between 1990 and 2000, Japanese whisky distilleries were getting wrecked. And many famous distilleries closed shop due to poor demand. And huge producers like Suntory and Nikka scaled back their production volumes dramatically.
A 21-year-aged whisky takes time to make, of course. Japanese whisky has been in high demand for about a decade. And Suntory doesn’t have enough whisky stocks to meet the demand for Hibiki. This led to a limited number of bottles and crazy price increases.
This is also why Hibiki 12 and 17 got 86d.
The good news is Suntory has ramped up production. In a decade or so, there will be enough Hibiki 21 to supply everyone’s whisky wall.
If you’re interested in Japanese whisky history, check out this article.
Where to Find Hibiki 21
Large retail stores (in major cities) like Costco, Binny’s, BevMo!, and Total Wine will sometimes have a bottle in stock. Prices at these stores are usually ok. But it’s also a crapshoot. The same goes for local shops. And deals can be very hard to find.
The best way to find a bottle is to search online. You can shop around and have the bottle delivered. This is often the best way to save money. But prices range from reasonable to mega-gouge. So be patient and don’t overpay.
Online retailers are also the best option if you want to find a bottle fast.
Below are some recommended online retailers that offer delivery. I’m an affiliate advertiser for some of these companies and may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Buy Hibiki 21 Online
The price of Hibiki 21YR is subject to change.
Did Suntory Discontinue Hibiki 21YR?!
A lot of people are asking this question. And I don’t blame them. Hibiki 21 has become incredibly hard to get, the price has skyrocketed, and Suntory has cut several famous whiskies from its lineup.
This question deserves its own post. So click here to get the answer to learn if Suntory discontinued Hibiki 21.
Is Hibiki 21 A Good Investment?
Hibiki 21-year is a highly collectible whisky. Prices have increased from around $1000 to $1400 in only a few years. So it has been a great investment.
And overall, whisky has faired well as an investment. It easily outperformed gold and many other investment classes. Check out some of the eye-popping stats on Viticult.
The question is, will the price of Hibiki 21 continue to see robust growth?
The risk of investing in this prestigious Japanese whisky is that Suntory will eventually meet the demand. And the whisky market could also cool off. That doesn’t look far-fetched with world markets retracting and interest rates on the rise in 2022.
As mentioned earlier, Japanese whisky has gone from boom to bust before. But don’t count on Hibiki 21 being discontinued. Suntory clearly wishes to keep this whisky in its lineup.
My guess is Hibiki 21 will continue to be in high demand. But the crazy price increases will probably level out slightly. It’s not a bad investment, but there are better options in my opinion.
For example, limited-edition offerings from Suntory tend to appreciate rapidly. The Hibiki 21 Mt Fuji Edition is the same whisky with a different label. And though a few retailers sell it for the same price, most charge 25-400% more.
Similar Whiskies
There aren’t many whiskies that stack up against Hibiki. But below are some that are often compared. And a few more whiskies are included that are worth considering.
Hibiki 21 vs Yamazaki 18
This is a popular comparison, but it’s like apples to oranges. Hibiki is a blended whisky featuring malt and grain components. Whereas, the Yamazaki is a malt whisky.
Both whiskies are wildly popular. The Hibiki includes malt from Yamazaki, but it has more depth and balance. Yamazaki 18 is more powerfully fruity and has a velvety texture.
Prices for both are similar. And neither is better than the other.
Hibiki 17 vs 21
Hibiki 17 is a gorgeous blended whisky. It’s floral, spicy, and smooth. The mizunara influence is heavy, and it used to be an amazing value.
It’s the whisky Bill Murray drank in Lost in Translation that got the retail crowd excited about Japanese whisky.
But in 2018, Suntory announced it was discontinuing Hibiki 17, gradually. Now it’s close to the same price as Hibiki 21. The latter whisky isn’t necessarily better. It has more caramel and dark fruit notes. And they’re both about the same degree of collectible.
Hibiki 30 vs 21
Hibiki 30 is a rare and remarkable Japanese whisky. For most of us, the best way to try it is at Yamazaki’s tasting room in Osaka.
A 750ml of Hibiki 30 costs about $9-$11K per bottle. So it makes the 21-year look affordable.
Hibiki 30 has more mizunara influence, a darker color, and more spice. But there’s a point where age doesn’t necessarily improve a whisky’s flavor. That comes down to personal preference.
Similar Scotch Whiskies
Johnny Walker Blue is probably Hibiki’s biggest blended whisky competitor. Blue Label is peatier and isn’t influenced by mizunara oak. So they don’t taste the same side by side. But they’re both smooth and luxurious brands.
Johnny Walker Blue only costs about $200 retail in the US. So it’s way more affordable than Hibiki 21.
Chivas Regal 25 Year is another well-regarded blended Scotch. And like Johnny Blue, it has a different profile than Hibiki 21. Chivas 25 is rich with notes of peach, butterscotch, leather, and chocolate. It’s an award-winner with a price tag of around $400-$500.
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Hibiki 21 Tasting Notes
Hibiki 21 is known for its bouquet, impeccable balance, and smooth nature. It’s also pretty spicy and slightly sweet.
Sherry influence is notable, as is mizunara. It pairs dried fruit and sandalwood with hints of heather, smoke, honey, and brine.
Other notes include orange oil, white raisin, genmaicha, and lavender.
In the glass, Hibiki 21 is dark, fruity, and a bit oily. There are layers of citrus and spice notes, plus sandalwood, stone fruit, raisin, almond, honey, ginger, aloe, toffee, and caramel.
Hibiki Whisky Food Pairings
Hibiki 21 is delicious on its own. But it can also make a good match with several dishes.
Many desserts pair beautifully with Hibiki. Creme brulee, chocolate cake, and apple pie are just a few worth trying. Cheese can be another great match. Blue cheese is especially delicious. And bloomy rind cheeses like camembert can also be excellent. Don’t forget the almonds or quince either.
Heavy and rich savory cuisine is another combo to try. Foods like barbeque, grilled steak, and lamb can be a great combo with Hibiki. A little water or ice helps temper the whisky to make it a better pairing.
Serving Suggestions
This blended whisky is best served either neat, with a splash of water, or with a few cubes.
The latter is especially useful if the bottle is stored in a warmer spot (like the top shelf of a bar).
A snifter or dedicated single malt glass will provide the best tasting experience.
And one other thing: DO NOT MIX! Unless you’re rich and bored, and you just don’t care anymore. In my opinion, nothing you can add to Hibiki 21 is going to make it taste better than it does already.
But if I was forced to make a cocktail with Hibiki 21, there are three drinks I’d consider.
The first is a Rusty Nail. But it would only have a barspoon worth of Drambuie. The second would be a Manhattan with Carpano Antica Formula. And the third would be a Penicillin with Hakushu 18 floated on top.
Glencairn is an excellent glass for tasting Hibiki whisky. Check them out on Amazon below. As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases.
About Suntory Whisky
Suntory Whisky EST: 1899
Founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii, Suntory (サントリー) started out as a wine shop, but soon turned into a wine producer when they released Akadama 赤玉. But it wasn’t until the groundbreaking creation of the Yamazaki Distillery (山崎蒸溜所) that Suntory really took off.
The Hibiki (響) blended whisky series was released in 1989 in a 17 Year and 21 Year Aged forms. Chita grain whisky provides a smooth core, while Hakushu and Yamazaki add balance and layers. A popular 12 Year was released later, followed more recently by Hibiki Harmony. Harmony carries no age statement.
Learn more about Suntory whisky with this full-length guide.
Conclusion
Well, did I leave anything out?!
What are your thoughts on Hibiki 21-Year? Is it worth the hype and high price tag?
Regardless of its value, there’s no doubt it is one delicious Japanese whisky.
I am looking for the Suntory Hibiki 21 years Dekanta…..
How much ? And where can I get it?
Tq
Aln
Hi Al nara! It depends on where you live. US retail prices between $1300-$1600 are common. Check https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/hibiki+twenty+one+old+blend+whisky+japan/0/usa. Good luck!
Great article, thanks. Managed to score one at auction in Australia for around AUD 900 (around USD 600). Seems like prices may be coming off.
Does anyone know what Snho1 Hibiki is? Picked it up in Japan.
Ooops SHNo1 correction above question. I purchased a bottle of Hibiki in Japan. The box says SHN01, no year. It has a gold crest on the bottle. Thanks