15 Jul Whisky Wednesday: Suntory’s Hakushu 18 year old

This Whisky Wednesday at Tokyo Bird we’ve got a hard-to-find whisky to feature here on the blog and at our Surry Hills small bar: Suntory Whisky’s Hakushu 18 year old single malt whisky.

Whisky: Hakushu 18 year old
Distiller: Suntory 
Country: Japan
Type: Single malt whisky
ABV: 43%

Tasting notes
Colour (what does it look like?):
Deep gold

Nose (what does it smell like?):
Ripe pear, dried mint, oregano, hint of smoke

Palate (what does it taste and feel like?):
Jasmine, mango, mint, menthol

Finish (how does the flavour finish on the palate?):
Long, pleasantly smoked, hint of bitterness

Background

From Suntory’s ‘forest distillery’ at Mount Kai-komagatake in the Yamanashi prefecture of southern Honshu, Hakushu 18 year old single malt is described as “silky with floral notes”.

Like its younger sibling, Hakushu 12 year old, it benefits from its serene, green origins with herbal notes and a signature gentle smokiness. Hakushu 18 comprises whiskies aged for a minimum of 18 years in ex bourbon, hogshead, puncheon and sherry casks, and possibly even mizunara Japanese oak too.

Not available in the Australian market and increasingly difficult to find even in Japan, Hakushu 18 has won international whisky awards since its release in 2006 – most recently, a Double Gold Medal in the ‘Best Other Whisky’ award category at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; the largest global spirits competition in the United States.

Best drinking

Neat.

What do you think?

Leave a comment with your thoughts on Suntory’s Hakushu 18 year old, or come try it at Tokyo Bird tonight! Mention #WhiskyWednesdays to get free bar snacks with your Whisky of the Week (Wednesdays only).