Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select Airport Edition Versus Japanese Harmony – They Are Not The Same!

I have posted many articles on Japanese whiskies including the prices of Hakushu, Hibiki and Yamazaki in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Most recent was that my son bought a Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select from KLIA2 for just RM350! Click on the image below to learn more:

As for the Hibiki Japanese Harmony no age and non airport edition, i.e. without the word Master’s Select, it is selling for more than RM500 at Jaya Grocer and other liquor dealers. Click on the two images below to learn more on prices of Japanese Whiskies:

Click here to learn about prices of Japanese Whisky in Malaysia and Australia and to see my new Japanese Whisky Collection including a first of a kind unboxing a Hibiki 17 Years.

To learn about Yamazaki 12, Hakushu 12 and Hakushu 18 Prices in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Australia, please click here:

Hibiki Japanese Harmony No Age Versus Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select Airport Edition

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select versus Harmony Front View.jpg

So you must be wondering if both the Hibiki Japanese Harmony with and without the words Master’s Select are the same? The answer is NO!

The box look similar but with subtle differences. The top cover of the Master’s Select Airport Edition is Blueish Purple whereas the other one is brownish.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select versus Harmony Top View

As for the design of the bottles, they are exactly the same as far as I am concerned:

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select versus Harmony Bottles.jpg

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select versus Harmony Front View Labels.jpg

How about the taste? Well, to me both taste almost the same and so does Hibiki 17, hahahaha.

HOWEVER, there is a BIG difference in smoothness between the Master’s Select Airport Edition versus the no age Hibiki Japanese Harmony.

The Master’s Select Airport Edition is spicier and therefore not as enjoyable when taken neat or on the rocks. Add water and it makes no difference, hahaha.

Personally for me, it is a waste to enjoy whisky or cognac with water as it dilutes the flavour and aroma – and the reason why we are paying so much money for a good cognac or whisky is purely because we want to enjoy the taste and aroma!

So in conclusion,  the Hibiki Master’s Select Edition is pretty easy to get all over the world at airports, therefore you can go waste it anytime over dinner with your friends. However, for the Hibiki Japanese Hibiki no age which is kind of hard to get nowadays, save it for a special occasion 🙂