Hakushu Distiller's Reserve is the no-age-statement single malt from Suntory's forest distillery, launched in 2014 alongside a Yamazaki counterpart. It sits at the bright, herbal end of the Hakushu style and makes a good place to start.
About This Whisky
Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo put the Distiller's Reserve together from three parts: young, lightly peated Hakushu, a share of heavily peated malt, and older whisky matured in American oak, some of it around 18 years old. The young malt brings the mint and green fruit, while the older American oak whisky fills out the middle and adds vanilla. It is bottled at 43% and sold without an age statement.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Cool mint, cut cucumber, honeydew melon and green pear.
- Palate: Light and zesty, with yuzu, pink grapefruit, fresh thyme and a little vanilla.
- Finish: Clean and medium length, with soft smoke lingering after the citrus.
Serving & Food
This is a natural highball malt. Fill a tall glass with ice, add one part whisky to three or four of chilled soda, and finish with a strip of lemon peel or a sprig of mint. Neat, it is pleasant slightly cool. Good with salt-grilled chicken yakitori, tempura, or a cucumber and shiso salad.
How to Enjoy
Everyday highballs, warm-weather drinking and anyone new to Japanese single malt.
Product Details
Producer: House of Suntory
Country: Japan
Distillery: Hakushu Distillery, Mt. Kaikomagatake
Style: Japanese single malt whisky (Distiller’s Reserve, no age statement)
ABV: 43%
Volume: 700ml
About the Distillery
What sets the distillery apart is range. It works with both unpeated and heavily peated malted barley, and its pot stills come in deliberately different shapes and sizes, so one site can turn out light, fruity spirit and heavily smoked spirit side by side.
That variety gives Suntory's blenders a wide palette for every Hakushu release, and it explains why the malt can be fresh and green one moment and quietly smoky the next.