Description
Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve 700ml is a no-age-statement Japanese single malt from Suntory’s Hakushu distillery in the Southern Japanese Alps. It is a fresh, citrusy expression of the distillery’s style, with a light touch of smoke from lightly peated malt, and it is bottled at 43% ABV.
Buy Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve Online in NZ
Suntory began in Osaka in 1899, when Shinjiro Torii opened a shop selling imported wines. Hakushu was built by Suntory in 1973 as its second malt distillery, half a century after Shinjiro Torii opened Yamazaki, Japan’s first malt whisky distillery, in 1923. It sits deep in the forest at the foot of Mt Kaikomagatake in the Southern Japanese Alps and is one of the highest distilleries in the world. Its water comes from rain and snow that filter through ancient granite, which gives it a rare softness.
The distillery runs pot stills of different shapes and sizes, which lets it make a wide range of malt styles on one site. Some of its malt is lightly peated, and that gentle smoke, along with the fresh, green character of the forest setting, has become the signature of Hakushu whisky.
Its bright character makes it a natural for highballs: pour it over ice, top with chilled soda water and add a sprig of mint for Suntory’s Hakushu Forest serve. It is also good neat or with a little water, and pairs with sushi, tempura or a citrus salad.
- Single malt from the Hakushu distillery, Japan
- Lightly peated, no age statement
- Bottled at 43% ABV
Expect fresh cut grass, yuzu and mint on the nose. The palate is light and refreshing, with green apple and citrus over soft malt, and the finish is clean with a gentle wisp of smoke.
A good starting point for anyone curious about Japanese single malt, especially fans of whisky highballs and those who want a lighter alternative to heavily peated whisky.
