The Hakushu Single Malt 12 Years Japanese Whisky 《Terroir Collection - TJ015》

Region : Japan

Alcohol : 43%

Website : https://www.suntory.co.jp/factory/hakushu/

🌟 One of the highest distilleries in the world

🌟 A brand of the long-established Japanese company Suntory

🌟 Influenced by the microclimate in the forest, it has a very unique style

🌟 Using oak tank fermentation, the fermentation in the wooden fermentation tank adds more creaminess and layering t

When talking about Japanese whiskey, the brand that must be mentioned is Suntory, and when talking about Suntory, it is inevitable to talk about its three Musketeers: Hibiki, Yamazaki, and Hakushu. Different from the long history of Hibiki and Yamazaki. The birth of Hakushu is more like a beautiful fairy tale.

Hakushu is located in the Toribara area of ​​Yamanashi Prefecture, Hakushu, Japan. It is owned by the old Japanese company Suntory Co., Ltd. and is one of the highest altitude distilleries in the world.

In 1973, Keizo Saji established the Hakushu Distillery deep in the forest of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Japanese Southern Alps. Saji Keizo is Suntory's second chief distiller. He inherited his father's pursuit of innovation and was committed to developing unique Japanese whiskey. Therefore, he searched for high-quality water sources across Japan for brewing whiskey. Finally, with unremitting efforts, he found Baizhou. Hakushu Distillery is undoubtedly one of the highest distilleries in the world. It is surrounded by forests and various plants. Therefore, the malt whiskey produced in Hakushu is affected by the microclimate in the forest and has a very unique character. style of.

The Hakushu region has four distinct seasons, fresh air, and a cool and humid climate, allowing this distillery located more than 700 meters above sea level to slowly and leisurely produce high-quality whiskey. The water used by the distillery to produce whiskey comes from the Ojira Rivers and Jingu Rivers at the foot of the Kaiko Magatak Mountains. The water here is formed by clear rainwater and melted snow over thousands of years. Filtered from ancient granite rock, it is extremely soft and pure. In the fermentation process of whiskey production, in order to make the style of Hakushu closer to the surrounding terroir, Suntory uses oak tank fermentation at all costs. The fermentation in wooden fermentation tanks adds more creaminess and layering to the taste of the wine. The baking ratios of four different types of wheat, from non-smoked to heavily smoked, combined with 6 different styles of distillers, make Hakushu's style even more diverse. But compared to its sister wine Yamazaki, the biggest difference is that Hakushu is a Japanese whiskey that does not use Japanese oak at all.

Unlike Japanese oak, which gives the wine a more linear aroma (described as Garo incense by Dave Broom, the author of the World Whiskey Map), Hakushu strives to show the original aroma through the combination of various oak barrels and forest storage and aging. As light and elegant as a pine forest. Therefore, unlike Yamazaki and Hibiki, who are suitable for expressing their varied styles through water cuts, the best way to drink Hakushu is directly and brightly, highball cocktail style. (Add Visa card and high-quality sparkling mineral water in a ratio of one to three, then add mint leaves.)

It is saccharified with high-quality submersible spring water from the Southern Alps and fermented in a wooden barrel fermentation tank to allow lactic acid bacteria to fully exert their effect. The fermented mixed wort with a fruity and chestnut flavor is distilled into a mellow new wine using a direct-fire distillation machine. Aged in American white oak barrels for more than 12 years.

$1820/bottle