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 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. 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 Bus service – From Nirasaki to Hakushu Distillery, No. 3 boarding area at Nirasaki Station → Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery). 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.

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’ 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.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! 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.” The expressions are available from select retailers including Harrods, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop. 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.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. 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. 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 18 YO Peated Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years in various casks, created in honour of House of Suntory’s centenary.

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. Peat is what gives Hakushu it’s distinctive aroma, that soft smoky note which is not overt but definitely present. Whilst on the tour – complete with audio tour for me, the one non-Japanese speaker in the 30-person tour group, and only non-Japanese person taking a tour that day (yes I asked when I saw a pattern) – it was the first time I’ve spent lots of time nosing peated barley and WOW it was lovely. Could nose that for days, and have in fact asked a couple of friends to source me some so I can do just that, and use it as a prop in my whisky tastings going forward. 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 aHakushu is the Japanese connoisseurs choice. The distillery, which was built in 1973 and is set amidst spectacular pine forests close to Japanese Alps.