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 […]
• 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, […]

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 […]