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 a

To make the whisky, Suntory used peated malt from the UK, including some that is heavily peated. The distiller used refill American oak casks in four sizes. Bus service – From Nirasaki to Hakushu Distillery, No. 3 boarding area at Nirasaki Station → Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery). 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. Climate also makes a big difference. The summers in Yamazaki (Osaka) are also much hotter than in Hakushu (Yamanashi). So whisky from Yamazaki tends to be darker than the equivalent whisky from 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.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.

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. 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. 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. Hakushu is the Japanese connoisseurs choice. The distillery, which was built in 1973 and is set amidst spectacular pine forests close to Japanese Alps.

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Expect rich and elegant aromas of dark cherry and ripe peach, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate holds subtle spice, with notes of fragrant Japanese incense leading to a long and lingering finish full of clove and sandalwood.

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. Meanwhile, the new Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt is comprised of malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years. The new expression is said to offer a ‘new angle to the world of peated whisky’. From Hakushu Distillery to Nirasaki – Matsubarakami (the closest bus stop to the distillery) → Nirasaki Station. 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. All that negativity aside, Hakushu 18 is a spectacular whisky. Getting a good deal requires patience and the ability to walk away from extreme mark-ups.That’s in part because Suntory is raising the prices of many of its whiskies in the spring of 2022. And the more expensive, the greater the increase. Hakushu 18 will increase 28% to 32,000 yen. And you should expect that price increase to be felt in the US too.