Buy rare and selected Hakushu Japanese Single Malt Whisky online

The Hakushu distillery was founded in 1973 by Keizo Saji, the son of Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, and is located around 120 kilometres west of Tokyo in the middle of the forests of the Kaikomagatake mountain in the southern Japanese Alps and was once the largest malt distillery in the world. The year it was founded coincided with the 50th anniversary of the first Japanese malt whisky distillery, Yamazaki (also owned by Suntory). Suntory deliberately looked for a location that was climatically and geologically very different from Yamazaki in order to be able to produce a greater variety of whisky styles. The choice fell on an exceptional location: deep in the forests at the foot of Mount Kaikomagatake in the southern Japanese Alps, at an altitude of around 700 metres above sea level. This makes it one of the highest distilleries in the world.
Due to its location in the middle of lush forests and surrounded by unspoilt nature, Hakushu is often referred to as the forest distillery (Mori no Joryusho). The environment plays a decisive role in the character of the whisky. The Hakushu distillery uses extremely pure and soft water that is filtered as meltwater from the peaks of the Japanese Alps through layers of granite that are thousands of years old. This water is considered to be one of the best in Japan (recognised by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment) and contributes significantly to the purity and freshness of Hakushu whisky.
In 1981, a second distillery (Hakushu Higashi, East) was opened next to the original (Hakushu Nishi, West) to increase the existing production capacity and allow for even more style diversity. Today, the focus is on producing a single malt with an often fresh, green and slightly smoky profile. Hakushu has a variety of stills of different shapes and sizes, enabling the production of different styles of whisky. Unlike Yamazaki, Hakushu also uses lightly peated malt. This gives the whisky a subtle, refreshing smoky note that is clearly different from the heavy peaty notes of many Scotch whiskies.
For the Hakushu single malt whisky, imported malt from Scotland and Ireland is used. The special climate, the lush forests, the water - whose clarity and purity is only achieved by filtering rainwater and meltwater through millennia-old granite rock - all influence the special malt whiskies produced here. Alongside the famous Yamazaki, Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries, Hakushu is the fourth distillery in the Suntory-Bowmore Group and produces a single malt whisky that is highly regarded around the world.
The Hakushu single malt is fresh and green on the nose with aromas of green apples, pears, herbs (mint, basil), pine needles, sometimes citrus fruits (grapefruit, yuzu) and a hint of smoke or campfire, the taste is crisp and refreshing, the green and fruity notes continue, often with a slight sweetness (honeydew melon), a subtle spiciness and the characteristic, gentle smoky note. Sometimes there are also floral or nutty hints. The finish is usually medium to long, clean and refreshing, often with a lingering light smokiness and the typical green notes.
Hakushu is a unique Japanese single malt that is characterised by its origin in the mountain forest environment and its resulting fresh, green and often slightly smoky character. It offers a refreshing alternative to heavier or exclusively non-smoky whiskies. Like the rare bottlings from Karuizawa, Kawasaki, Yamazaki and Hanyu, Hakushu single malt whisky is now one of the most sought-after Japanese single malt whiskies among connoisseurs and enthusiasts.