{"product_id":"hbiki-12-year-old-travel-retail-exclusive-limited-edition-japanese-blended-whisky-2026-70cl","title":"Hibiki 12 Year Old Travel Retail Exclusive Limited Edition Japanese Blended Whisky (2026) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eHibiki 12 Year Old Travel Retail Exclusive Limited Edition Japanese Blended Whisky (2026) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe Hibiki 12 Year Old Travel Exclusive is a blended whisky released in 2026 from Suntory, the producer of the prestigious Japanese whisky brand Hibiki, and made available exclusively through airport duty‑free shops worldwide. It is crafted from malt whiskies distilled at the Yamazaki Distillery and Hakushu Distillery, combined with grain whisky from the Chita Distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThis release marks the return of the “Hibiki 12 Year Old,” which had been discontinued in 2015 due to shortages of mature stock. After an eleven‑year absence, it has been revived specifically for the travel retail market. The blend is said to have been re‑imagined by Shinji Fukuyo, the fifth Chief Blender, who built upon the original concept of Hibiki to create a renewed expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eIt carries a 12‑year age statement, guaranteeing a minimum maturation period, and is characterised by a combination of whiskies matured in American oak, Spanish oak and Mizunara oak casks. The bottling strength is 43%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eNotes reminiscent of sandalwood from Mizunara oak intertwine with aromas of pear and apple. Gentle sweetness from honey and orange peel emerges, with vanilla and light oak lingering in the background. As it opens, subtle floral nuances appear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eA soft sweetness spreads across the palate, accompanied by textures suggestive of dried fruits and honey. Warm spice and the depth of oak develop towards the mid‑palate, adding dimension. The mouthfeel is notably smooth, with the impression of multiple well‑integrated component whiskies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eNeither overly long nor short, the finish carries quiet wood tones characteristic of Mizunara oak, along with a faint sweetness. It fades gently, with little sharpness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e*the plastic on the seal is partly damaged but not torn or open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Hibiki\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn February 1899, Shinjiro Torii opened a store in Osaka, Japan, that traded in imported wines. Within a decade, Torii began producing his own sweet grape wine called Akadama Port Wine, which became wildly popular throughout the country. In 1923, Torri — fascinated by whisky his entire life — decided to expand his business and began constructing the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first-ever whisky distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough inspired by traditional Scottish distilleries, Torii envisioned a uniquely Japanese approach to whisky and chose a location for his distillery that offered a climate and terrain utterly different from those of Scotland. Nestled on the periphery of Kyoto, Yamazaki Distillery is situated at the confluence of three rivers — the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu — that provide the warm, damp environment ideal for the production and maturation of whisky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFifty years after the construction of Yamazaki Distillery, Keizo Saji inherited his father's vision and constructed Suntory's second distillery. Situated amidst the deep forests of Mount Kaikomagatake in Japan's southern Alps, the Hakushu Distillery enjoys a unique microclimate as a result of being surrounded by nearly 6,000 varieties of plants and thousand-year-old granite rocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e43% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hibiki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55031898931538,"sku":"HIB12TRE2026","price":259.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/Hibiki12YearOldTravelRetailExclusiveLimitedEditionJapaneseBlendedWhisky_2026_70cl.jpg?v=1791843655","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/hbiki-12-year-old-travel-retail-exclusive-limited-edition-japanese-blended-whisky-2026-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}