Hibiki Harmony vs Single Malt Yoichi

[@kevinnordby4808]

Great review Peter! I fully agree with your decision. The Yoichi is probably my favorite Japanese whisky I’ve had. I’ve always thought of Hibiki as floral and a touch herbal but I’ve never thought it was peated…maybe I’ve had too much Ardbeg and Laphroaig😂 The cost breakdown is opposite in my market….the Hibiki is around $80 and the Yoichi is above $110-$120.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I am becoming peat blind, but before that happened I had the Hibiki and was shocked to find it was slightly peated. I was expecting it to be more along the line of the Yamazaki 12, but it was not. Hibiki is going for less then $90 now. Not sure how long that will hold, but I have been seeing multiple bottles of it on the shelf at Total Wine and More as apposed to it being on the allocated counter. Yoichi holding steady at $85

[@yokosomike]

Yoichi ¥4900 here in Tokyo 2023... Hibiki Harmony ¥15980 if you can find it. I was at my local grocery store last weekend and was looking at their whisky selection. I noticed the Yoichi and the two or three minutes I was there three separate people picked up three bottles of Yoichi on the spot for purchase. LOL.! I ended up trying an Akashi instead out of curiosity but will go back and purchase the Yoichi as I do enjoy Nikka. Nice review. Arigato.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

The Akashi in my opinion does not compare to the Hibiki or the Yoichi. If you get the Yoichi check back in and let me know what you think of it. Cheers!

[@graveshotx]

Great Matchup!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks. I think this bottle battle series is going to be fun. Going forward they will get much harder to identify the bottles, but fun nonetheless.

[@nestopoeta]

When you mixed these I was shocked I had no idea you could do that 😮😮😮😮

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I need to do that more. One of my viewers turned me on to mixing them at the end of the video. Sometimes I do it sometimes I forget.

[@nestopoeta]

@@whiskeyisajourney now I need to try this lmaoo

[@bubbleman244]

Love these whiskies but prefer Yoichi. Great format, keep it up and have a great weekend.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thank you! I will keep it going. Enjoy your weekend as well.

[@markpanter3109]

Thanks, Peter. Great review. I think you do an excellent job of explaining what you like and why. I was in Japan a couple of years ago and enjoyed the whiskey very much. Not sure why I never bought a bottle here. I’m thinking that it’s time for me to add a bottle to my collection and based on your review, I’m going to look for a bottle of Yoichi. Hopefully I can find it here in Michigan.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks. I think both of these bottles are worth having on the shelf. Depending on your mood and the level of peat you want at the time I think they both are good additions to a collection.

[@christinecamley]

Fabulous battle of the distilleries! I love Habiki and Yoichi but the more heavily peated Yoichi is my favourite of the two whiskies! For me it's totally mood-based as to what whisky I will choose at any given time for these delicious expressions. In Vancouver both whiskies cost a lot more than in the U.S. and perhaps more difficult to find but I am usually able to have a bottle of both at home on the bar. Terrific video Peter! On a side note I finally found a Lagavulin 11 Charred Oak and I am really looking forward to being able to try this expression. Ardbeg and Lagavulin are both favourites, with their core presentations and sometimes the specialty choices are disappointments. This is exciting! Thanks for the awesome information on Hibiki and Yoichi! Great choices! Cheers! 🙂

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thanks! I think the Lagavulin 11 is good. I completely understand what you mean about something being a mood pour. I have a bottle of Barrell Seagrass that's very good, but It's so unique I can't drink it all the time. Cheers to Vancouver!

[@christinecamley]

@@whiskeyisajourney Thanks Peter! I am wish you on the Barrell Seagrass! Happy Wednesday!! 🙂

[@Joe-ub5rs]

Both of these have been available in my market but Yoichi is being pulled off our shelves. Thank you for the reminder, I just checked and I can still grab them, it's also been reduced as well, woohoo I may have to grab 2 while I can. Totally agree with your assessment. Great review and thanks again!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Get them at a reduced price! Anything under $80 I think would be a good deal.

[@510jcas]

Love this concept! You should do it more often.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

That's the plan. Every other Friday going forward.

[@NOWHERESQ]

It's quite different whiskys to compare. They are trying to have different flavors profiles.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I agree they have different flavor profiles, but I was mainly putting them up against one another for the price similarity, being peated, and from different distilleries. Cheers!

[@czaxis]

I love the Hibiki Harmony. Very easy to drink.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Agreed. AND the price of the bottle actually dropped a few dollars. If and when this bottle is gone I will consider picking up another one.

[@willmc55555]

I'm just starting to explore peated whiskeys so the Harmony is probably going to suit me better. I just saw Sam's Club was selling it for $70. I think I'll go back and pick it up.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I think $70 is a good price. Snag one if you can. Peated whisky is a rabbit hole once you get used to the nuances of the peat. Have fun with the journey.

[@justwhisky]

Nice work! Cheers 🥃

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@tonylastname6468]

You're a master blender. Empirically speaking, of course. Idea ... your next iteration of Bottle Battle, have a trusted agent, who has whiskey wisdom, set up the dance cards for you.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Send me an email. I'll pass on my collection list to you. Pick some battles and I will have my sister or brother in law look at your suggestions pour the samples without my knowledge and enter them into my sample pool.

[@Rohit_M]

Good head to head battle of Japanese distilleries Peter. I have enjoyed Nikka Miyagiko over Hibiki. I have been debating getting a bottle of Yoichi for subdued peat you get with it. Maybe I will grab one once the bottle of Miyagiko is killed off. Nikka seems to be doing a good job with some of their offerings. The only gripe is Japanese whisky prices have been going through the roof the last little while.

[@whiskeyisajourney]

It might just be my perception, but I think Japanese and Irish prices are going up much faster than other types. If I remember correctly I have Miyagiko and Yamazaki going up against a scotch whisky in my bottle battle sample pool. I wanted to see how they did up against a scotch.

[@Rohit_M]

@@whiskeyisajourney That sounds exciting.

[@kirbycalgary2844]

I took a bottle of the Habiki harmony to my sister. I tried some. It was very nice but very light, but not offensive whatsoever the nikka Yoshi I have a bottle, but I have not Open yet I’ve heard good things maybe this week

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Check back in when you try it and let me know what you think of it. I am happy to see that the Hibiki dropped in price in my area the past few months. It's now under $100.

[@kirbycalgary2844]

I paid 124 Canadian for the Hibiki and then I paid $68 for the Yoshi The prices don’t match up from America to Canada The Japanese whiskeys seem to be more expensive in America on the low end, but cheaper when you get to the age statement

[@kirbycalgary2844]

@@whiskeyisajourney OMG I just opened a bottle of the Yoshi. It is amazing I want to take another dram but I had a couple already before, so I think I’ll not do it tonight but It’s really so good.

[@kirbycalgary2844]

For $68 that is better than most the whiskey I paid $200 for mind you $68 was on sale. It’s usually around 85.

[@kirbycalgary2844]

I can’t wait to try thetakasuru malt that I have after trying that Yoshi

[@CGsYTChannel]

Well add Yoichi to my shopping list lol

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I'd be interested to hear what you think of it. It's this and the Yamazaki 12 that are my top 2 Japanese offerings.

[@Heeheepp]

Hiiiiiii😍😍

[@whiskeyisajourney]

Hi