Hakushu Distiller's Reserve Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml, 43% ABV
$169.00
Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve is a beautifully fresh and distinctive Japanese single malt from Suntory’s Hakushu Distillery, nestled deep in the forests of the Japanese Alps. Known as the “mountain forest distillery”, Hakushu produces a style quite unlike the richer, more opulent whiskies of its sister distillery, Yamazaki — vibrant, herbal and refreshing, with a delicate thread of smoke running through it.
The whisky brings together lightly peated and unpeated malt whiskies of different ages to create a wonderfully balanced expression of the Hakushu house style. Expect bright notes of green apple, citrus and fresh herbs, joined by peppermint, cucumber and subtle tropical fruit. A gentle smokiness emerges underneath, adding complexity without overwhelming the whisky’s characteristic freshness.
Elegant, crisp and remarkably approachable, Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve is an excellent introduction to Japanese single malt whisky while still offering plenty of interest for the experienced whisky drinker. Its combination of orchard fruit, herbal freshness and restrained smoke makes it particularly distinctive — and a fascinating contrast to the more familiar styles of Scotch single malt.
Tasting notes (below) have been supplied by the distillery:
Quantity
Tasting Notes
- Colour: Light gold.
- Nose: Peppermint, melon, cucumber.
- Palate: Yuzu, grapefruit, lemon thyme.
- Finish: Subtle smoke
Awards
- Silver Medal — International Spirits Challenge 2015.
- Whisky of the Month — April 2020, The Whisky Exchange.
- Top 10 Whiskies of the Month — December 2024, Master of Malt.
About the Distillery
Hakushu Distillery is one of Japan’s most distinctive whisky distilleries, founded by Suntory in 1973 in the forested foothills of Mount Kaikoma in the Japanese Alps. Sitting around 700 metres above sea level and surrounded by dense woodland, it is often described as Suntory’s “mountain forest distillery.” The location was deliberately chosen for its exceptionally pure, soft water, filtered naturally through the region’s granite mountains, as well as its cool, humid climate—conditions that play an important role in both production and maturation.
Hakushu is particularly known for a fresh, vibrant style of single malt, often showing notes of green apple, citrus, herbs, mint and gentle smoke. Unlike the richer, fruitier character commonly associated with its sister distillery Yamazaki, Hakushu tends to be lighter, greener and more refreshing, although the distillery produces a surprisingly broad range of spirit styles through different still shapes, fermentation techniques and varying levels of peat. Its combination of pristine mountain water, forest environment and subtle smokiness gives Hakushu a character that is unusual not only within Japanese whisky, but across the wider whisky world.
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