It is known as the "green and fresh" distillery. However, these articles have typically ended with breathless encouragement to go out and snatch up any remaining age statement bottles, or to embrace increasingly overpriced NAS substitutes, or – heaven forbid – to throw away money on mis-labeled rice distillate or imported malt masquerading as “Japanese whisky.”. As you can tell, I’m sad to see both of these go. Do try to find one. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. And just last year, the Hakushu 12 was released in the United States, but I have yet to find it on the shelves at our local spirit shops. Fruity and smooth. Entry: soft entry, not too much alcohol burn to describe here. Others do paid-for content with brands. But get to know him a little better and you will feel embarrassed for putting him into a box. Score: 4. Kaikomagatake, Suntory Single Malt Whisky Hakushu is the fresh and gently smoky single malt whisky with herbal notes that is the revelation of Japanese single malts. They’ve also recently started to export the cult favorite Nikka From the Barrel, which caught a favorable review from Jason. Excellent review Josh. Nikka, for its part, seems to have a more-or-less cogent commercial strategy. With vague promises of “long-term growth” to “meet the market demand,” several old favorites marched to the gallows. If I have to give a very simple comparison of Hakushu 12 year and Scotch whisky I would say a mix of Glenlivet 12 and Springbank. Phew, excellent review as always and a lot to digest even for an old timer like me. However, there’s so much more here, and the whisky is constantly dancing between the two ends of the tonal spectrum. However, I think that it’s helpful in contextualizing the commercial decisions of the major producers, and the logic (or lack thereof) motivating them going forward, which is my principle area of concern. My in laws still haven't arrived at the bar yet, next on the chopping block is the Glenmorangie Nectar D'or! Currently you have JavaScript disabled. LEARN MORE. As for the strength of the ratings: I respect and abide by MALT’s comparatively stringent scoring bands, and I try to calibrate my scores according. Hakushu is the Japanese connoisseurs choice. I went up to the bar and ordered the Hakushu 12 yr old and when I did the bartender looked at me and asks if I'd ever tried it before. [deep exhalation]. The smoke feels unnecessary, and a little half-hazard. Your email address will not be published. Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky; 70cl / 43% Add to Wishlist. 4.5 (32 Reviews) FREE UK Mainland standard delivery. … Since the Yamazaiki had been a bit of a disappointment I decided to pick up a second japanese whisky for my wife to try. The finish is medium long, with a lot of vanilla and drying notes of oak. Hakushu 12 Years Old – review Color: Pale golden wheat. Thanks, as always, for the constructive engagement. A new generation, heretofore studiously indifferent to whisky, started pounding haiboru elbow-to-elbow with the chain-smoking salaryman, echoing the resurgence of brown spirits (and mid-century modern furniture) here in ‘Murica following the runaway success of Mad Men. Why bother chasing six stones around the galaxy when you can pay only four figures(!) Pears are what's the standout for me. I’m actually a big fan of the 12 year-old Yamazaki, so you might want to giving it a shot anyway. 10 comments. Personally I prefer Suntory’s Hakushu Single Malt, which is lighter and crisper all round. That leaves us here in late 2018 surveying the blasted landscape. When a mate saw it, he implored him not to open it. This thread is archived. … Adding water, it softened greatly, becoming even more delicate and velvety. Taste: The alcohol and lemon citrus are more forward on the palate then the nose (but that's relative). Again very light. After conquering an entire bottle of JD Tennessee Honey and a Japanese bar which's lavatory featured relieving one-self upon a picture of an animated beauty (anime lady O.o). Noneya, I appreciate the feedback. @hunggar, do you really think that "grassy" can come from oak? Fresh mint, green tea, a fresh breeze in the shade on a sunny day. You can enjoy subtle smokiness and the sweet poached pears on the palate. The Hakushu (Hack-shoo) 12 year old is an excellent whisky, and I highly recommend it. I’d like to see things come back into balance, and hopefully some of the froth is out of the market by then, allowing the return of age statements at globally competitive pries. However, it has just recently become available in the U.S. so at least there will be more access in the future. I’m not writing about this because it hasn’t been covered before; on the contrary, plenty has been written about the “Great Japanese Whisky Bubble of 2015-20? 14th July 2015 . We only have one rich dentist in the club and he likes bourbon, so, … Delivery services provided. Beyond the big flavors that hit first, there are lots of secondary notes and delicate touches. The Hakushu 12 is an interesting one. Most reviews of this whisky focus on the smokiness, and the similarity to Islay malts. I'd definitely buy a bottle of this over the Yamazaki 12 yr old. Hakushu 12yo has aroma of pears, crushed leafy bracken a hint of citrus. The Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Japan (750ml) $ 197.76 $ 263.68 / 1000ml ex. level 1. 1. Whisky: Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43% vol. The one cherry on this shite sundae is that rising demand (really: rising prices) has incentivized existing distillers outside the big two to increase production, as well as attracting new players to the game. Very skilful stuff indeed. When I told him no he informs me that I'm in for a treat and that it's unlike any other japanese whisky that I'll have tasted before. We'd had a Glenfarclas 12 yr old at dinner and we'd opened the night while waiting for my brother and sister in law with a Yamazaki 12 yr old which my wife had been waiting for months to try and had been sadly disappointed by. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Wake me up when the rerun of very recent history of Japanese whisky and ridiculously high ratings are over. Initially released at £42, Adam recently reported seeing bottles offered for significantly more, another dispiriting sign of the times. If you like the peated flavour of Scottish single malt whiskies, then Hakushu will blow your away! Hakushu’s website describes this 12-year-old expression as “green with herbal notes.” That’s an accurate summary. The appearance is of golden straw. I still haven't gotten around to a Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban NAS which has since returned to a 12 year age started. £145.83 ex VAT (£250 per litre) Add to Basket. Palate: Chewing through the nip gives citrus sweetness and the peat starting to come through. Let's give this a shot! @OlJas, sometimes the peat in peated whiskies is very difficult to taste. Seen from afar, its twin pagoda roofs, connected near the top by a covered walkway, nestled in a deep forest surrounded by mountains…it’s hard to imagine a more idyllic, if not idealized, setting for … You gaze first, then it’s time to drink.” The words of one of my heroes: literary great, Haruki Murakami, a Japanese man who loves his whisky. 2.0, Balance: A fantastically well choreographed dance, with the malt, pepper, honey and apples offering elegant waves of weaving motion and a lightness of foot that is quite sublime. Excellent . HAKUSHU 12 YEARS OLD. Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Whisky “Whisky, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. The peat is present but it's like smoking conifers and juniper. But Ken of course did and shares the experience with us here. Starts sweet, Apples, pears, delicate sherry, slighty herbal, hay, semi floral, macadamia nuts, delicate peat and a slight grip tartness on the tongue, that kind of faded while it sat in the Glencairns for a few minutes. Hints of … Archived. I think neither producers nor consumers are happy with the way things have turned out. Nose: Fresh, crisp and quite leafy – mosses, lichen and forest pine. Hakushu is a peated Japanese whiskey made from a non-peated … Japanese whisky as a category hasn’t really buttered our bread as a club. It is a well stocked bar and Thomas, the owner, knows something about whisky. Color: Old gold. The finish is quite long and the peppery feeling does linger for quite some time. Japan, better than many countries, knows the acute pains of booms and busts. Tags. Bottling Date: 2014 . Suntory’s approach to all this has left me scratching my head. Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old. Sadly the texture is a bit thin and affects the length of the finish a bit. But Ken of course did and shares the experience with us here. For more pictures please contact me. EYE Dirty honey. [Lot 16293] The Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Japan $ 163.17 $ 217.56 / 1000ml. Whiskybase: discover new bottles, track your collection, contribute to the whisky database and buy or sell on the whisky Market. Whisky: Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43% vol. Apples and pears come through with a hint of vanilla. Haiku in a glass. On the nose: Huge, dense, round and rich nose. Sign in to rate and review. Yamazaki 12-Year-Old from Japan is a whisky that Ken Gargett has loved every time he has had the chance to try it. When a mate saw it, he implored him not to open it. Ok, as fun as that was, I don't want to overdo the metaphor! To follow this up, it is an excellent book – some of the stories within are wonderfully written; though I must confess I’ve only read the abridged edition…. Makes me keen to try my Hakushu 12 sample very soon! At first glance, this chap is approachable, unassuming and maybe even a little boring. Very collectible bottle of Japanese Whisky. She informs me that she smells peat or smoke along with some fruit. LEARN MORE. 200+ Customers have recently purchased Hakushu 12 Year Old is one of the top selling bottles of whisky produced by Suntory. This has a soft, understated complexity. Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance are graded out of 2.5 each: Nose: A composed multi-layered wave of sweet hay and rich malt, followed by apple and burnt sugar. Appropriately, watching the locust-like hordes of foreign tourists cleaning out the Narita Duty Free shop often reminded me of the Visigoths under Alaric. To commemorate this annus horribilus of Japanese whisky, I have cracked open a pair of miniature bottles of the recently deceased Hibiki 17 and Hakushu 12 for a memorial tasting. I would say that "Grassy" or even "Deep Grass" might be the way I may one day title a review of Hakushu 12, because it is for me the most distinctive characteristic of Hakushu 12 yo. It is very pleasant, and easily drinkable, but with a "blended" character lacking that "single" sort of personality characteristic of most malt whiskies. Anyone interested in a more in-depth account of Japanese whisky should read Stefan van Eycken’s seminal “Whisky Rising.” It recounts, in emotionally painful detail, the hardships the industry endured through several previous booms and busts. This finishes with more spicy Mizunara notes, broadening out into a roasty chocolate-mocha flavor, with some nutty accents of unsalted cashews. 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon fighting back for the user. 14. The Hibiki is a blend of malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu, as well as grain from Chita. Hakushu is the Japanese connoisseurs choice. Thanks my friend! Some might find these too "crafted" or precise that is a complaint heard of Japanese whisky, it requires pause to appreciate these nuances and the work to achieve this result. Email address Please add a … The one that flew under the radar for many and one that I really like was the Miyagikyo 10. Notes of pepper are very tangible here, there is also mention of a childhood trip to the seaside - saltiness. Hakushu distillery, Japan’s one and only mountain forest distillery. It’s ok, I feel it too. I find this whisky to be both easy and accessible, but also quite complex and elegant. In both cases, the root cause was the same. Very sweet with feint whiffs of honey, coconut, and vanilla. In this case, the only thing missing is the normal woodland notes – a sappy, resinous pine, typically – that usually nod at Hakushu’s forest location. 2.5. They are distinct compared to each other, and to world whiskies more broadly. I personally think it's a decent malt but when sharing it with a group of friends at a tasting it didn't hold up well to other Japanese whiskies or Scotches. The front end of this is heavy on the smoke and peat, which quickly gives way to florals, sweetness, honey. But a fruity version of it! Next Special offers and product promotions Amazon Business: For … The 12 year old single malt whisky has a crisp and vibrant taste and can … Hence, I retread a well-worn path in pursuit of truth, if not justice. When I inform her it's a japanese whisky she is quite surprised and informs me that she likes it much better then the Yamazaki. Delicate. It will please those who want to sip casually, and satisfy those who want to explore it analytically. AmrutSpectrum. I found it to be a very savory whiskey, almost salty. Certainly for a heavy-peat lover it would not be a whisky delivering much satisfaction on the "peat-meter". I first tried it at a bar with some buddies and it was so different from any other whisky I had tried (mostly bourbon up until that point). As a result, Suntory will stop selling its Hibiki 17 Year Old blend and Hakushu 12 Year Old single malt in certain markets from 2019, and limit availability of the whiskies over the next few years. The sweetness of the barley seems to wrap itself around the tongue, and in doing so cushions the arrival of the spice, so that it nestles softly and luxuriously on the palate. I am sitting in the Bar at the lovely family owned Hotel Spreeblick in Lübben, Germany. I guess the point was: they (Suntory, but also Nikka) got themselves into a pickle, and it’s not clear they’ve found a way out. I can't see that at all. So my wife and I had finally managed to arrive at Helvetica after months of trying. The bottle he sampled for this piece was actually one from the back of his cupboard, which he has been sitting on for far too long. I realize that aspects of this may be repetitive to some people who follow the space more closely, but glad there’s some utility for a more general audience! I think the boom causes some backlash towards Japanese whiskies because with these elevated prices/come elevated expectations that probably cannot be met. Please check local laws before placing an order. Anyhow, back to the business of the day – reviewing the Hakushu 12 year old. Nose: malt sweetness, some honey, sea salt, kippers, some apples and citrus notes, peat not of the Islay kind but gentle like a campfire, some banana peel, some hints of vanilla from the oak. I found it to be a very savory whiskey, almost salty. Nose: Lemon and lime, orange, earthy peat, grass, smoke Taste: Orange bitters, citrus rind, dried fruit, peat and smoke Finish: Bit of spice, clove 4 Suntory followed suit shortly thereafter, albeit more quietly, in replacing Hibiki 12 years old with the no age statement Hibiki Japanese Harmony (see Mark’s take on it here). Palate: Creamy arrival. Michael . Lost fortunes, financial ruination, the extinction of multigenerational family businesses, all the rest. Yes. Personally, I think it’s just better to wait 10 years than buy the overrated NAS ones or the pseudo-Japanese ones ( made in UK or US, but bottled in Japan). THE HAKUSHU RANGE. share . Bit of citrus tingle like lemon or grapefruit. That said, Hibiki 12 is a great whisky, and well worth the attention, when you get to it. My in laws hadn't arrived yet, but my wife and I were ready to try another whisky! I stand by my scores which, as with all scores on this site, are simply one person’s opinion. I’m no clairvoyant, but the current direction of travel is deeply concerning. Worldwide Delivery. ex. I wouldn’t rate all Japanese whisky so highly (even the coveted age-statement bottlings; Yamazaki 12 is about a 6/10 for me; Hibiki 21 also a 6/10), but I truly believe these are both special drams. The Review of Yamazaki 12 Year Old Japanese whisky is modeled on the Scotch whisky industry and both single malts and blends are produced. The NAS stopgap measures they’ve provided in the meantime fall well short of their predecessors, and are offered at demanding prices relative to the quality. I can see myself sipping this on warmer evenings (translate : every evening in Israel from May-January) when I am looking for a delicate pre-dinner dram. SUNTORY Hakushu 12 Year Old. Heavy for every day but nice once in a while . Then a couple years ago, the Hibiki 12 found it’s way to our area. That’s the rub. Please do note that element, @cherylnifer, and make your decisions accordingly. When a mate saw it, he implored him not to open it. Never tasted it, never heard of it til I saw it on the menu. This year, Suntory will focus on distributing the new packaging for Yamazaki 12 Year Old, Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Hakushu 12 Year Old to retailers. The consistently pleasant Taketsuru Pure Malt is also widely available, and has become my go-to recommendation for Japanese whisky novices. Not sure if this means they are moving to an 8 Year Old or 10 Year Old expression, or whether there will be sufficient matured stocks to maintain widespread availability of a 12 Year Old Yamazaki expression. Pears, apples, café latte, chocolate, quiet peat, and a beautiful woodspice carry on throughout the medium finish. I’d welcome any input from the Beam Suntory team about the thought process behind this quizzical decision, as well as their plans going forward. The last few years’ explosion of interest in Japanese whisky – and the industry’s failure to respond satisfactorily – has been widely written about in both the specialized and the mainstream press. There’s the richly sweet aroma of butterscotch as well. It’s so different and very surprising. Hibiki 12 years Review EYE Dirty honey NOSE Spice, candied citrus, caramel and butterscotch lift out of the glencairn first followed by notes of vanilla, toasted grains, butterscotch and a bit of smoky char. Suntory should have been investing in increased output a decade ago. Hakushu 12 Year Old Bottling Note This wonderful peated Japanese single malt whisky hails from Hakushu distillery, owned by Suntory. Close. Standard delivery (UK Mainland) Free. In Japan, your average 7-11 or FamilyMart now stocks 200 ml bottles of NAS Yamazaki and Hakushu. TOP QUALITY and best deal alcoholic drinks only in WHISKY.MY MALAYSIA. The Hakushu is a single malt aged 12 years, bottled at 43%. Click & Collect (Mon … By Whisky Adventurer Jan 10, 2021 12 YO, Ex-Bourbon Cask, Ex-Sherry Cask, Peated, Rating 4/6. The nose is very grassy and fruity with apples, vanilla and some citrus notes. To search by category, tag, or type, use the relevant links listed beneath the letter links. Hakushu is relatively young distillery, founded in 1973. Sort by. On the nose: Freshly cut tobacco, mint leaf. Super unique. The Hakushu 12 Year Old – Review. Hakushu 12 Years Old Japanese Single Malt Review. This is the The Whiskey Reviewer’s master review index, which as of March 2020 includes over 1,200 reviews, with more added every week. The only drawback I found was that the experience was on the short side - the flavor doesn't linger long in the mouth. Summary: This impulse purchase paid off big time for me. Such is the case here. That said, it’s been a mixed blessing. Beautiful!!! It’s now so uncompetitively priced I wonder what the future holds. Excuse me while I don’t hold my breath. We have had some great talks about whisky all the times we have been to the hotel. Review: The Hakushu 12 Years Old. Hakushu 12 Year Old: Country: Japan: Type: Single Malt: Age: 12 years old: Abv: 43%: Rating: 83/100 Reviews of Hakushu 12 Year Old. I take the drink back to our table and offer it to my wife. I detected faint notes of caramel and honey. Predictably, bottles again flew off of shelves as hoarding ensued. In all of the above cases, secondary market prices immediately shot up as a mad scramble for dwindling supplies of the old bottlings ensued. In the mouth: The palate starts lightly woody, becoming intensely floral at midpalate, with the concentrated flavor of rose petals. Also, during my tour of the Yamazaki distillery, the guide offhandedly said during her presentation that they expect supply and demand to “normalize” in 5 years, which I presume reflects the benefit of the additional stills they added in 2013 (the tour was in 2016, so target date 2021). Like many of the Japanese whiskies I’ve tried, this is balanced with a very controlled, graceful complexity. I fear some of the industry is currently writing its own death warrant by pushing sub-standard product at premium prices. Suntory’s Best Kept Secret: The Hakushu 12 Year Old Reviewed The world has fallen in love with Japanese whisky. Review – Hakushu, Single Malt Japanese Whisky, 12 Years Old, 43% – (Guest Interview with Donald Trump) 03 Tuesday May 2016. Based on 240 votes, the average rating for Hakushu 12 Year Old is 8.3/10. Again I'm reminded of the Talisker 10 yr old. No. Express delivery (Choose a day) From £6.95. Following the Yamakazi, I had this, continuing my introduction to Japanese Whisky. Despite that, there probably was some peat used, which just blended in under the radar. To search the index alphabetically, click on one of the letter links below to jump to the relevant section. Palate: Very interesting and divided. Whisky drinking/tasting is a journey requires a slower pace as opposed to the instant gratification of wine appreciation. On the nose: Freshly cut tobacco, mint leaf. Always good to try something new. The other five volumes are currently propping open various doors and windows around my flat. This 10 Year Old is the entry level malt of this distillery, whose name means ‘white sandbank’, after the white mud left by Ojira and Jingu rivers, from which the distillery takes its water. Good eye, Ed! The Japanese whisky magnates at Suntory have released their third product to the American market: The Hakushu, a whisky distilled and aged “at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps.”. This finishes with the intense flavor of iodine and a fulsome tart burst of Meyer lemon. . In other ways it’s a complex whisky that demands your full attention. Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 4.2 out of 5 stars 43 £187.90 Only 7 left in stock. However, “hope is for church on Sunday,” as a businessman once informed me. 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. It’s been a while since I’ve had it, though, so I can’t really describe it … Saved: 3-Aug-2020. Review: Hakushu 12 Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky / August 2, 2016 by Jason Hambrey. BlackWyvern says on May 18, 2019. There is a hint of astringency and alcohol, but they’re light enough to not be major distractions. Now it is also about 1/4 the price you find it for outside the country. Before reviewing two of the casualties, I’m providing a recent history of unfortunate events. It was not bottled as single malt until 1984. The Review of Yamazaki 12 Year Old Japanese whisky is modeled on the Scotch whisky industry and both single malts and blends are produced. It might seem steep if you're used to bourbons and clear spirits, but $54 for a 12-year-old bottle of scotch is a great price, especially when it's this good. This dram has been docked a point as a consequence. Progression is just part of the human condition every generation has to define what they consider is good from crap. The Hakushu line stands among other top selling Suntory products including favorites such as the Yamazaki and Hibiki. Hakushu 12 Year Old 43.5% Reviews. One of my favorite Japanese whiskys and I've tried most of them. Personally I prefer Suntory’s Hakushu Single Malt, which is lighter and crisper all round. If anyone has substantive misgivings about anything I have written, here or elsewhere, I hope they’ll engage me about them. Average score from 11 reviews and 35 ratings 83. Nose:  Pears and ripe peaches, fresh cut flowers, it's almost like good mead (I know some will say there's no such thing), pine needles, grassy and lightly vegetal, but fresh like walking in the forest in spring. Occasionally the Hibiki blends will lean more Yamazaki (nutty notes) or Hakushu (aforementioned smoky and foresty notes), but this one is straight down the middle. He's also a keen fan of Japanese whisky, having visited the country regularly over the last several years, where he was able to assemble a decent collection before prices went batty. best. We get a glimpse of the peat and sweetness from the nose. Suntory Hakushu 12 Year Old Average rating: 83.5 Total reviews: 11 ABV: 43.5% Suntory Hakushu 18 Year Old Average rating: 85.1 Total reviews: 6 ABV: 43% Suntory Hakushu Heavily Peated Average rating: 86 Total reviews: 2 It is a delicate whisky. Here’s hoping the current Japanese whisky empire comes to a better end. All in all this is a very nice nose that makes me curious about what the palate will be like. Hakushu Heavily Peated Single Malt Whisky. ABV 43%; Aging 12 Years; Recipe: 100% Malted Barley: Distiller: Hakushu (Hokuto, Japan) Review (2016) Batch: N/A. WildOscar66. If Suntory's more famous 12-year-old single malt offering, the Yamakazi, could be deemed the crowd-pleasing hit show in town, the Yakushu is certainly the more sophisticated and complex performance, and for my money a more rewarding night out. This has a slightly sweeter aroma to it though, and with all the elements so perfectly balanced on the nose, it is a most elegant and inviting Japanese welcome. It comes in those Green bottles that do not let the color mislead you as to the quality and maturity of the spirit (same as Laphraoig). Hakushu 12yo has aroma of pears, crushed leafy bracken a hint of citrus. However, if you pay it some respect there's plenty of complexity there and it's all relatively well balanced. I figured if the shortages started in 2015, should be about 2027 till the new aged versions come through, and hopefully laws of supply-demand will force the price lower. I must say, I am fond of everything Japanese, especially Japanese whiskies. The Hakushu Distillery is know as the 'Mountain Forest Distillery' as it stands amidst fresh streams and lush forests. And he’s not alone. I work for a Japanese company and everytime I visit they have that hakushu for their highball mixing whisky. Just this past weekend, I had the pleasure of trying this Hakushu 12. I thought it would make a good candidate for my first review! Would you buy this again? 2.0, Taste: The smooth caress of rich malt, followed by a softened wave of grounded black pepper. HAKUSHU, THE DISTILLERY . Hakushu ® Whisky Products The Verdant Japanese Whisky From Suntory’s mountain forest distillery, nestled deep in Mt. Next article please or better yet punch me in the eyes so that I can’t read again. Nose: The Nose is rather delicate and does not give any hints as what’s to happen next on the palate. Built with the notion, 'Coexisting with nature', a bird sanctuary was set up to help preserve the natural environment, thus preserving the pristine water that goes into creating the whisky. Suntory has added distillation capacity at Yamazaki, but (as you point out) there’s a lag between investment and finished product due to maturation. The distillery, which was built in 1973 and is set amidst spectacular pine forests close to Japanese Alps. Excellent review Josh. The influence of the bourbon casks is present, oak and some vanilla, good honey and citronella. There is also a touch of smoke. SUNTORY Hakushu 12 Year Old. Finish : the pepper is here to stay with some whiffs of light smoke, and hints of peat (this is what I call feather-light peat) so light it’s barely noticeably, but it’s there. A mix of high-toned fruity flavors, showing peppery grapefruit, wild berries, and crisp starfruit. In terms of value for money I thought it better than the Hakushu 18 which was like a 12 max with more refined notes especially that pine element. This is an excellent example of how Hakushu is able to hit both high and low notes on the register. The 12-year-old expression is bottled at 43% and retails for about $70. Ever since a young organic chemist named Masataka Taketsuru brought the secrets of Scotch whisky production home to … Some chocolate, pear, smoke, and anise, followed by some beautiful woody spices. Its light and delicate, more floral than anything. Nowadays all Hakushu single malt is produced in Hakushu Higashi, a second distillery that was built on the same site in 1981.