Japanese whisky-loving hearts broke in 2018 when it was announced that Hibiki would be discontinuing its beloved 17 Year Old expression. Suntory cited a shortage of aged stocks, forcing production of the age-statement expression to stop. Not only did the standard 17 Year Old cease production, but the sought-after limited-edition Hibiki 17 Year Olds were also discontinued. This includes the fabled Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu.
Since its discontinuation, the appetite (and prices) for the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu has only increased. So, why is it that this blended Japanese whisky is so prized? And where can you buy it now that it is no longer in production?
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All About The Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu
A 17 Year Old blended Japanese whisky was the first expression in Hibiki’s core range upon its launch in 1989, and remained the most popular expression even following the introduction of a 21 Year Old (also in 1989) and a 30 Year Old in 1997.
Over the course of its lifetime, the 17 Year Old has seen a number of limited-edition expressions including the Phoenix, Egret, and Shiki Kacho.
The Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu was released in 2015 in the iconic 24-sided bottle that has become synonymous with the brand, representing the 24 observed lunar seasons in Japan. The bottle is beautifully adorned with screen-printed chrysanthemums and cranes, exuding the essence of Japan. The Japanese Kanji phrase ‘Kacho Fugetsu’ translates to ‘Flowers, Bird, Wind, Moon’. However, its less literal meaning refers to the act of discovering oneself in nature. As such, the bottle is designed to emulate the tranquility and beauty of Japanese nature.
In fact, all Hibiki bottles inherently make reference to the beauty of nature, with the phrase ‘Hibiki’ meaning ‘resonance’ or ‘echo’, referring to the harmonious blend of natural grain whiskies inside the bottle.
How Rare Is The Whisky?
I have come across references online to the Kacho Fugetsu being limited to just 1,000 bottles. This has never been confirmed by Suntory. However, the bottle does seem to be very rare on the secondary market.
According to my research, only 252 Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsus have ever come to auction. The current auction record for a bottle stands at around $2,900, achieved in Australia in November 2021.
What Makes The Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu So Sought After By Whisky Collectors?
There are a few factors that make the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu so appealing to whisky collectors. Firstly, we have the whisky itself.
As mentioned above, the 17 Year Old was one of the inaugural Hibiki expressions and quickly became very popular upon release in 1989. When Suntory announced its discontinuation in 2018 after almost 30 years on the market, Hibiki fans were extremely saddened. The whisky remained on some shelves until 2020 but is now unavailable through most spirit retailers. As such, the secondary market represents the only chance for Hibiki fans to get their hands on the discontinued liquid gold.
Of course, all of the above goes for the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu as well. After all, it contains the same spirit. So, what additional factors add to the value of the Kacho Fugetsu?
The design and packaging of the whisky is another factor that makes this whisky so sought-after. Beautifully designed to emulate the Japanese outdoors, this bottle makes a very impressive centerpiece and conversation starter. In addition, the bottles were limited edition, meaning there is a small and finite number out there for people to bid on. It is no surprise, then, that the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu causes a stir when it appears at auction.
The Disappearance of Japanese Whisky Age Statements
Finally, we must talk about the elusive nature of age-statement Japanese whisky. In recent years, we have seen a slow decline in the number of age-statement expressions coming out of Japan. The Hibiki 12 and 17 Year Olds have been discontinued, and the Hibiki Japanese Harmony has no age statement to speak of. The Yoichi 15 Year Old is gone, and the Hakushu 12 Year Old was briefly discontinued.
To put it simply, age statement Japanese whisky is running out, and it has been for a while.
As such, we can expect the prices of age statement whiskies such as the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsus to rise as a result of increased demand and a lack of stock.
The Japanese whisky industry will almost certainly recover from this. After all, the reason that it is happening in the first place is because of the overwhelming boom in popularity that Japanese whisky has recently experienced. At the time, the industry simply wasn’t prepared to meet such high demand. Now, at least, they know what to expect.
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In the meantime, though, whiskies such as the Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu will only become harder to acquire.
Buy The Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu
Luckily for you, we have a Hibiki 17 Year Old Kacho Fugestsu available on The Whiskey Wash Shop for just $2,229. We also offer free worldwide shipping on all orders and can ship to over 40 US states.
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