The Hakushu Japanese Whisky
Suntory single malt from a forest distillery above the clouds.
The story behind The Hakushu
The Hakushu distillery sits in the forested foothills of Mount Kaikoma in Yamanashi Prefecture, built by Suntory in 1973. It is a mountain site, cool and humid, and the water runs soft through granite. That setting is the whisky: green, herbal, orchard fruit, and a thread of smoke from malt that is partly peated and partly not.
Suntory matures it mostly in American oak, Spanish sherry, and Japanese mizunara oak, which is where the incense and sandalwood notes come from. We have carried these bottles for years, and the 12 year has spent long stretches on allocation. When it lands, it lands quietly.
Explore the The Hakushu range
Three bottles, one forest character. The 12 year is the benchmark, the 18 year is the deeper read, and the 100th Anniversary release marks the house milestone.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hakushu 12 Yrs Single Malt | Single malt, 12 year | 86 proof | Green apple, pine, light smoke, mizunara spice |
| The Hakushu 12 Yrs 100th Whisky | Single malt, 12 year, anniversary | 86 proof | Orchard fruit, herbs, soft peat, long finish |
| The Hakushu 18 Yrs Single Malt | Single malt, 18 year | 86 proof | Dried fruit, sandalwood, cocoa, gentle smoke |
| The Hakushu Distiller's Reserve | Single malt, no age statement | 86 proof | Fresh pear, mint, honey, faint campfire |
| The Hakushu 12 Yrs Single Malt | Single malt, 12 year | 86 proof | Herbal, citrus peel, toasted oak, clean smoke |
| The Hakushu 18 Yrs Single Malt | Single malt, 18 year | 86 proof | Sherry sweetness, forest floor, mizunara incense |
Which The Hakushu is right for you?
The Hakushu 12 Yrs Single Malt is $169.99, and the 12 Yrs 100th Whisky anniversary bottling is $499.99. The Hakushu 18 Yrs Single Malt is $319.99. Two of the three are currently out of stock, which is normal for this house; call us at (631) 343-7200 and we will tell you what is on the shelf today and when the next drop is expected. Buy The Hakushu online when stock shows, or reserve by phone.
Light smoke and green fruit, a gentler peat than Islay without losing the edge.
Anniversary bottling, limited run, and the 12 year is already hard to find.
Eighteen years brings sandalwood and dried fruit, worth opening for a milestone.