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

The wash produced during the fermentation process is distilled twice in rows of pot stills of different shapes and sizes. By using different stills, the distillery is able to produce a variety of whiskies with flavours ranging from light to full-bodied. Direct-fired distillation at a temperature of about 1.200°C creates an even greater range of flavour-contributing substances. 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’. Hakushu distillery ( Japanese: 白州蒸溜所, Hepburn: Hakushū jōryūsho) is a Japanese whisky distillery. It is owned by the Suntory group, and situated in the Toribara locality ( 鳥原, also pronounced Torihara) of the former town of Hakushū (now part of Hokuto), in the Yamanashi Prefecture, Chūbu region, Japan. 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. 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.

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. Refined and elegant, this centennial Hakushu Peated Malt is a distinctly Japanese take on peated whisky. The smoke is less strong, never dominant and in typical Japanese style, is more complex and gentle. The Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all aged for aExpect 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 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.

Literally towering above its competitors, Hakushu is the highest operational distillery in Japan, with an altitude of more than 2000 feet above sea level. Rather like its Scottish counterpart, Dalwhinnie (the highest distillery in Scotland), whose altitude is said by some to play a huge part in the character and style of its spirits, Hakushu produces a wonderfully balanced malt of the highest quality. 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! 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 ReleaseTrain – the distillery is located about 10 minutes by car from Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. That’s in part because Suntory is raising the prices of many of its whiskies in the spring of 2022. And the more expensive, the greater the increase. Hakushu 18 will increase 28% to 32,000 yen. And you should expect that price increase to be felt in the US too. Many quality Japanese restaurants and bars will carry Hakushu 12. It’s one of the top handful of recognizable brands, so it behooves buyers to carry it. Non-Japanese bars with good spirits selections will also often carry this great 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. The bottle design for Yamazaki 12 pays tribute to its production facility, which is the oldest malt distillery in Japan. The illustration features the distillery in deep copper tones from a low angle, looking up.