Hakushu Suntory | Japanese | Single MaltWhisky | Subtle Smoke, Crisp Apple and Mint | Made With The Pure Waters Of The Southern Japanese Alps | 40 Percent ABV | 70 cl

Product Information

Expect rich and elegant aromas of dark cherry and ripe peach, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate holds subtle spice, with notes of fragrant Japanese incense leading to a long and lingering finish full of clove and sandalwood. The House of Suntory have been pioneers of Japanese whisky since 1923, when founder Shinjiro Torii built Japans first malt distillery. The birthplace of Japanese single malt, Yamazaki is inspired by traditional Scottish whisky making and is influenced by its surrounding nature and climate. Torii believed that the craftsmanship and mastery required to create single malt whisky appropriately reflected the values of the Japanese people and culture, whilst a unique climate, fresh water sources, and natural materials available would combine well in the pursuit of a world-leading whisky. He certainly wasn't wrong!

Hakushu and Yamazaki are the two marquee Suntory whisky distilleries. The Yamazaki came first, and it produces deeply fruity, floral, soft, and semi-sweet single malts. The influence of Japanese mizunara oak is obvious, especially on the higher-end expressions. The Hakushu relies much more on ex-Bourbon casks plus some Sherry cask influence. And the whiskies are much crisper, more mineral, peaty, and herbal. All that negativity aside, Hakushu 18 is a spectacular whisky. Getting a good deal requires patience and the ability to walk away from extreme mark-ups. Train – the distillery is located about 10 minutes by car from Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. The House of Suntory is also inviting fans to join its new global membership programme. Members can find out about new releases, receive priority consideration for invitations to consumer experiences, learn news from the distilleries, gain early access to content and more. Upon arriving, having spent two hours looking out together the train windows enjoying the amazing scenery, I was astounded to see, nay feel the setting within which this distillery sits.

The environment around the Distillery is key to the Hakushu Distillery story. When setting the distillery up, Suntory travelled around the country testing countless water source samples to ensure they had the perfect source for their most precious ingredient; water. Hakushu’s soft water source flows through the forest and granite before getting to the Hakushu Distillery, and it has been attributed some of the credit by the production team at Hakushu for the light, soft flavour of the end product. To make the whisky, Suntory used peated malt from the UK, including some that is heavily peated. The distiller used refill American oak casks in four sizes. On the nose, the whisky offers notes of sage, ripe green apple, and hints of ripe pineapple. The palate brings a ‘complex smoky flavour’ with layers of herbal, grapefruit and acacia honey notes, and a smoky finish with undernotes of green citrus. Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt offers a ‘new angle to the world of peated malt’ From Hakushu Distillery to Nirasaki – Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery) → Nirasaki Station.

These overall comparisons hold true for Yamazaki 18 and Hakushu 18. Suntory releases them both at the same price. But Yamazaki tends to be a little more expensive retail. Car – the distillery is located 15 minutes by car from the Kobuchizawa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway. The car park has a capacity for 200 passenger cars (Large buses can also be accommodated). Please note – Drivers are not permitted to sample whisky as consumption of alcoholic beverages by drivers is prohibited by law. Thank you for your cooperation. The nose opens with notes of green apple, fragrant jasmine and subtle smoke, which lead to a sweet palate of chocolate-chip biscuits and vanilla. The finish is reasonably dry, with more sweet and gentle smoke. Yamazaki 18 Year Old Suntory 100th Anniversary Release Hakushu distillery offers guided tours of its facility. The tours are conducted in Japanese but an audio guide in English, French and Chinese is available. You can reach Hakushu using the following modes of transport:

RESOURCES

The expressions are available from select retailers including Harrods, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop. Hakushu is the verdant single malt Japanese whisky born in Suntory's mountain forest distillery. Made from water with a rare softness and maturing in a lush forested microclimate, Hakushu's renowned single malt Japanese whiskies are blessed by the region's ever-changing seasons—each leaving their own verdant signature. Refreshingly herbal and gently smoky, Hakushu is embraced as the intriguing single malt Japanese whisky from the award-winning House of Suntory Whisky. Where to find Hakushu

Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara was blended for our 100-year anniversary and features a rich texture created from a long ageing process,” said fifth-generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo. “This expresses the delicate and meticulous attention to detail that went into its craftsmanship.” Meanwhile, the new Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt is comprised of malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years. The new expression is said to offer a ‘new angle to the world of peated whisky’.This Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years solely in Mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. The expression is a true showcase of the distinctive beauty of Mizunara oak, which is notoriously difficult to master, and considered the signature “enhancer” of Yamazaki - infusing the whisky with one-of-a-kind Japanese character and elegance. With a name meaning “mountain cape” in reference to its secluded location, Yamazaki is Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii. Presented at 43% abv.

Many people prefer the fruitier whiskies from Yamazaki. I like the herbal and crisp Hakushu malts. But everyone is different, so I encourage you to try them side by side if possible.

Winner of 2 spirit awards

Nose: Woodsmoke and the earthiness of peat hit you in the schnoz as soon as you open the bottle, so there’s no question this is a peated whisky. The magic is in the honeyed essence underneath the smoke and peat, however. This whisky made my mouth water as I thought of a crisp bite of apple on a fall day. Also orange peel and burnt, buttered toast. The resulting liquid offers notes of dark cherry and ripe peach on the nose, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate is ‘subtly spiced’ with Japanese incense and a long and lingering finish, accentuated with clove, sandalwood, and hints of dried coconut. The Hakushu 12 Year Old is a peated expression comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies, all aged for a minimum of 12 years in various casks. Hakushu is Suntory's mountain forest distillery, making their expressions with exceptionally pure granite-filtered water and maturing the liquid in a lush, forested microclimate. The illustration on the bottle captures the Hakushu distillery in soft hues green, representing the surrounding forest, and it depicts Shinjiro Torii’s dream to make whisky blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftmanship that is still carried on today. Presented at 43% abv. Tasked with producing an original whisky distinct from those originating at Yamazaki distillery, the Hakushu distillery was built as Suntory’s second distillery in 1973 on the 50th anniversary of the start of construction at its sister facility. Pure and very clean. Sweet lime, green fruits then a hint of smoke and a buttery meadow sweet/chamomile note. Light to the point of fragility.