Distillery

Hakushu whiskies

Hakushu is Suntory’s malt distillery, in a forest at the foot of Mount Kaikoma, in the Southern Japanese Alps, in Yamanashi prefecture. It is known as the forest distillery, and its whisky has a green, fresh character reminiscent of its surroundings. It is one of the most sought-after Japanese malts, and some of its age-statement versions are hard to find. Its light style with gentle smoke is unique in Japan.

Founded
1973
Owner
Suntory
Origin
Japan
In the catalogue
3 whiskies

History, style and where to startSee it on the world map

  • Hakushu distillery, photo 1 of 3
    Photo: iwaim ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)
  • Hakushu distillery, photo 2 of 3
    Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)
  • Hakushu distillery, photo 3 of 3
    Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)

3 whiskies

Guide to Hakushu

History

Suntory built Hakushu at the beginning of the 1970s, when whisky consumption was growing strongly in Japan and the company needed a second malt distillery with a style different from Yamazaki’s. It chose a high-altitude site, surrounded by forest and with very soft spring water filtered through the mountain’s granite. In its early years it was one of the largest malt distilleries in the world. Today it produces many different styles, with stills of various shapes and wooden fermenters, which are combined in its malts and in the house blends.

House style

Hakushu’s style is fresh and green: mint, freshly cut grass, cucumber, green apple, citrus and a very light peat smoke. The soft water and the altitude are associated with that clean character. The house uses lightly peated barley for part of its production, which gives it a delicate smoky touch. It is a light, elegant and very refreshing whisky.

Average flavour profile of its 3 whiskies in the catalogue

Sweet
2.3
Fresh fruit
3.2
Ripe and dried fruit
0.8
Floral and herbal
2.2
Cereal and malt
1.3
Vanilla and creamy
1.7
Oak
1.7
Spicy
1.5
Toasted
1.0
Smoky
1.7
Maritime
0.0
Body and intensity
2.2

Where to start

Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, without an age statement, is the easiest way in to find: fresh, green and with gentle smoke. Hakushu 12 Year Old adds depth and is one of the most appreciated Japanese malts, although it is scarce. Both work very well as a highball, with soda and plenty of ice. Also try them neat to discover their green notes.

This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors. Founding year, owner and official website come partly from Wikidata.

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