Scottish Leader 25 Years Old is a 40% ABV blended Scotch whisky in a decorative ceramic decanter, and the bottle caught my attention almost as much as the whisky inside it. In the glass, I found nutty, toffee-led aromas followed […]
After Hibiki Japanese Harmony, I was curious to explore another side of Japan’s whisky industry through Nikka and its founder, Masataka Taketsuru. Nikka From the Barrel won me over with honey and dried fruit on the nose, followed by creamy […]
I have a soft spot for Japanese whisky, especially the attention given to blending and presentation. So why is Japanese whisky so good? The answer lies in the decisions made throughout production, from fermentation and distillation to cask selection and […]
Editor’s Note: Updated October 2026. First published in June 2018, this historical feature has been revised using Suntory and Nikka’s official records. It explores Hibiki’s origins; our tasting of Japanese Harmony Master’s Select remains a separate review. Hibiki history begins […]
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select is Suntory’s travel retail blend, bottled at 43% ABV without an age statement. Our tasting brought out vanilla, plum, orange zest, oak, and a little smoke, with enough body to make it more than a […]
Editor’s Note: The year 1851 is a historical reference in this whisky’s name, not an age statement. Auction and retail examples below were checked in October 2026; the tasting assessment and value score refer to the bottle we tried. A […]