Japanese Harmony is a beautiful name for a whisky, especially one that belongs to a label with as rich of a history as Suntory's. Specifically part of the existing Hibiki range, it "happens to be one of the more complex expressions across the entire Suntory Whisky portfolio," according to Cool Hunting. With at least 10 malt and grain whiskies, which were pulled from all three of Suntory's distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita, this claim is not exaggerated.
The Hibiki Japanese Harmony is at once sweet and smokey. Since Suntory's Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was pronounced the world's best whisky — a first for Japan — by expert Jim Murray, it's only natural they would want to follow it up with an even better concoction.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Premium Asian Whiskies
- The popularity of Japanese Harmony and other complex whiskies opens up premium market opportunities for Asian distilleries.
- Multi-distillery Collaboration
- Collaborating and combining whiskies from different distilleries can create unique and complex products that attract whisky enthusiasts, and offer cross-selling opportunities for distilleries.
- Smokey and Sweet Flavors
- The combination of smokey and sweet flavors creates a unique taste-profile that can be explored further by whisky makers, and can cater to whisky lovers who enjoy a balance of both flavors.
Where This Applies
- Distillery
- Distilleries can explore collaborating with other distilleries and experimenting with different grain and malt combinations to create premium and complex whiskies that cater to a growing market demand.
- Hospitality
- Hospitality businesses, such as bars and restaurants, can offer a selection of rare and complex whiskies, including premium Asian whiskies, to attract whisky enthusiasts and increase sales revenue through higher-priced offerings.
- Consumer Goods
- Consumer goods companies can leverage the growing demand for premium and complex whiskies, including Japanese Harmony, by expanding their whisky offerings with new products that cater to the evolving taste preferences of whisky lovers.
