Hakushu
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 distillery was established in 1973, in the forest on the slopes of Mount Kaikoma (甲斐駒ヶ岳, Kaikoma-ga-take?). In 1981, it was expanded by the commissioning of a second, Hakushu East, site, near the original site, now called Hakushu West. All production is now focused on the new site.
The Whiskyphiles tasting notes
Official bottling
Hakushu 12 Years Old (2014) – Hakushu 12 Years Old (43%, OB, 2014) Japanese single malt whisky 43% ABV, £73.81 Score: 83/100 What they say: From Suntory’s mountain distillery, nestled deep in the forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake, Hakushu is the herbal and gently smoky single malt. Straight from the untouched forests, mountains, and pure waters of the Southern Japanese Alps, it […]
Hakushu 12 Years Old (2020) – Hakushu 12 Years Old Whisky Review: Definitely the green/woody expression I remember but with perhaps a much more noticeable smoke element, minerality and sharper resolution of herbal notes – but perhaps this is just the benefit of a much more educated palate from me now. Since it is unobtainable price-wise perhaps I do appreciate this expression much more than when it was rather freely available. 84/100
Hakushu 18 Years Old (2014) – Hakushu 18 Years Old (43%, OB, 2014) Japanese single malt whisky 43% ABV, £159.67 Score: 86/100 What they say: Silky with floral notes. Color: deep gold Nose: ripe pear, dried mint, oregano, hint of smoke Palate: jasmine, mango, quince, menthol Finish: long, pleasantly smoked, hint of bitterness What I say: The 18 year old expression […]
Independent bottling
Scotch malt whisky society
SMWS 120.7 Sweet, fragrant and satisfying (2015) – Hakushu 14 Years Old 1999 120.7 Sweet, fragrant and satisfying (55.5%, SMWS, 1st Fill Bota Corta Butt, 517 Bottles, 2014) Category: Japanese single malt whisky Origin: Hakushu Distillery Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask #120.7 ABV: 55.5% Cost: £229 for the pairing of SMWS G12.1 and 120.7 buy from SMWS Score: 91/100 What they say: The nose […]
The Whiskyphiles 