Product description
Hakushu Distillery, the second Suntory malt whisky distillery was built in 1973 in Yamanashi Prefecture.
In 1981 the sister distillery, Hakushu Higashi, was constructed making it the biggest malt distillery in the world with combined distilling capacity of 30 million liters of spirit per annum. In the 1990s due to overproduction the distillery reduced the number of stills from 36 to 11 and consequently the capacity to 4 million liters; the number of stills was increased to 18 in 2014. The same year Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve was introduced, a vatting of lightly peated malt around 8 years old, heavily peated malt and whisky matured in American oak casks for 18 years. In 2010 small grain whisky facility was established on the distillery grounds.
Nose: fruity and herbaceous, green apples, pears, gooseberries, touch of cucumber, pine needles, vanilla, caramel, mint and distant whiff of smoke.
Palate: grapefruits, green bananas, apples, quince jam, bunch of fresh herbs, vanilla, candied ginger, oak and subtle smoky notes in the background.
Finish: medium long, with notes of green fruit, oak, lemon grass and fading hints of smoke.