Hakushu 18 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky 750 ml

Hakushu 18 Year Old is the fully age-stated apex of Hakushu's standard lineup — 18 years in Suntory's mountain forest distillery at 700 meters elevation in the Southern Japanese Alps, producing the deepest and most complex expression of Hakushu's herbal, lightly peated, and distinctly fresh character that the distillery is known for.

The Hakushu Distillery was established in 1973 by Keizo Saji — Shinjiro Torii's son and Suntory's second president — in a deliberate contrast to Yamazaki's warm, lowland valley character. At 700 meters elevation, surrounded by the pristine forests of the Southern Alps, the distillery draws on ultra-soft alpine spring water from one of Japan's purest sources, and the cool, damp forest microclimate produces a longer, more delicate maturation cycle than lowland distilleries experience. The lightly peated malt component — present in all Hakushu expressions — contributes the characteristic herbaceous smoke that distinguishes Hakushu from every other major Japanese single malt. At 18 years, the oak integration is complete enough for the pear, mint, and oregano character to have deepened significantly, the jasmine and mango notes developed from extended maturation, and the smoke character evolved from the fresh green quality of the 12 Year to a more resolved, pleasantly mineral presence.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Ripe pear, dried mint, oregano, and a hint of smoke — more developed and complex than the 12 Year
• Palate: Jasmine, mango, quince, and menthol with the silky mouthfeel of 18 years of alpine maturation
• Finish: Long and pleasantly smoky with a subtle mineral bitterness — the most developed Hakushu close

Specs

• Distillery: Hakushu Distillery, Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan (est. 1973)
• Style: Japanese Single Malt Whisky
• Age: 18 years
• Elevation: 700 meters, Southern Japanese Alps
• Water: Ultra-soft alpine spring water
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Hakushu 18 Year differ from Hakushu 12 Year?

Six additional years of alpine maturation deepen the pear and orchard fruit character, develop the jasmine and mango notes that are less pronounced in the 12 Year, and allow the lightly peated smoke to resolve from a fresh green quality into a more mineral, pleasantly complex presence. The 18 Year is significantly more layered — the Hakushu freshness retained but with far greater depth.