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

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.

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. 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. 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.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.

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. 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 a 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. From Hakushu Distillery to Nirasaki – Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery) → Nirasaki Station. Climate also makes a big difference. The summers in Yamazaki (Osaka) are also much hotter than in Hakushu (Yamanashi). So whisky from Yamazaki tends to be darker than the equivalent whisky from Hakushu.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 Hakushu distillery came 50 years later, in 1973, based in a forested microclimate located at the base of Mount Kaikomagatake - making it one of the highest distilleries in the world, standing at 2,300 feet above sea level.Hakushu single malt is known as to be fresh as the pure rainwater that gathers in the surrounding rivers. Train – the distillery is located about 10 minutes by car from Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. Bus service – From Nirasaki to Hakushu Distillery, No. 3 boarding area at Nirasaki Station → Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery). 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:

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. 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.” 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. 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! 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.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. 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’ 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. 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.