Hakushu Sherry Cask - NAS (2013)

And here we go with the 2013 release of the Hakushu Shery Cask. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to try the 2012 release so this is my first with the Hakushu Sherry Cask NAS. Bottled as ususal at 48% vol with no chill filtration.

• Nose: Lots of oloroso sherry, dry oak dried plums and cherries, umeboshi candy, with water a bit peppery
• Mouth: Sherry, spices, thick and oily
• Finish: Sherry, some light oak, oranges and chocolate, light tannins, chocolate cookies, still oily like milk

Comment: Maybe not the most complex but very enjoyable. Absolute sherry bomb.

87 points

Hakushu Heavily Peated - NAS (2013)

From the 2013 Suntory limited NAS line this years Hakushu Heavily Peated. Non chill filtered and bottled at 48% vol.

• Nose: Peaty with smoke, peat sweetness, molasses, sandalwood, with water a bit grassy-green and honey melon. A bit hot on the nose without water.
• Mouth: Sugary sweet peat, but also dominating peat which overpowers other more subtle flavors, medium oily and a tad medical, pepper
• Finish: Peat, grassy sweet, pepper and spice, brine, lingering peat sweetness at the very end.

Comment: The peat is fairly overpowering, also quite spicy with pepper. Generally I think the peat and pepper is too dominating and unbalances the whisky a bit. Still a good whisky although not for everyone.

82 points

Hakushu 2000 - 2012 Cask #EL41357

An around 12 years old Hakushu single cask aged in a hogshead cask. Bottled at 61% vol cask strength.

• Nose: Peat, smoke, ashes, some dry ashy oak, honey, peat sweetness, dry grass
• Mouth: Peat, a lot of licorice (root) and a mix of different woods and spiced tea
• Finish: Long and warm with licorice again. Peat and smoke with some malt and vanilla.

Comment: Rather unusual Hakushu with the strong licorice note, but I like it a lot. Quite punchy with a high abv. and strong flavors all around.

87 points

Hakushu 1997 - 2009, 12yo, Whisky Live! Japan #BJ 41521

This twelve year old single cask Hakushu was bottled for Whisky Live! Japan in 2009. At cask strength with 56% and matured in a hogshead cask.

• Nose: Subdued oak, plenty fruity, acacia honey, flowery-grassy with hay
• Mouth: fruity and grassy, honey + pepper, light oak
• Finish: Short'ish but clean. Very light oak, sugar, floral with pepper

Comment: Clean and simple but quite enjoyable. Feels more Scottish than Japanese in my opinion.

81 points

Hakushu 12

I already tasted the Hakushu 18, so this time I go for the 12 year old. Hakushu (白州) is the second Suntory (サントリー) owned malt whisky distillery. The distillery itself is fairly new and opened in the 70s. 
Just like the 18 year old the Hakushu 12yo  is bottled at 43.5% (Japanese bottlings are labeled 43% but I speculate the regulations are just a bit more lax in Japan)
For some more info on the Hakushu 12 check out this great article on the whisky advocate blog.

• Nose: Apple, a bit grassy, green grapes, a tad peat and whiffs of oak, very fresh
• Mouth: Grassy with minimal sherry notes, a bit malty, floral sweetness
• Finish: A bit Peat, slight smoke, fresh apple, a bit oak, towards the end some sherry and at the very end bitter herbs

Comment: Very fresh and summery with a delicate sherry note in the background. Very drinkable and you could nibble away the whole bottle in a long session.

85 points
(2010)

Hakushu 1989 Sherry Cask TWE - 9O 50021

Aged from 1989 till 2009 (20yo) it was bottled for The Whisky Exchange's 10th Anniversary.
A very dark first fill sherry cask (spanish oak butt) and an impressive 62% vol.
As you can see from the picture this Hakushu (白州) is massively dark and thick.

• Nose: Old Wood, warmed up oak, cedar wood, raisins, Oloroso sherry, plum spread, muscat grapes
• Mouth: Very oily, dry, oak, raisins, sherry, a bit smokey
• Finish: Nice and present oak, dry, long with all sherry aspects at the end again

Comments: What can I say - an epic dram <3 Sherry bomb². Very complex and excellent wood influences. Usually sherry casks are Yamazakis forte with Hakushu being more bourbon cask oriented. This makes for a welcome and delicious change.

92 points

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel - NAS (2010)

The Bourbon Barrel is a limited bottling matured in bourbon barrels. It comes with no age statement at 48% vol. and no chill filtration.

• Nose: Tropical fruits, apple juice, fresh, a bit smoke, a little bit peat, a bit grassy and flowery
• Mouth: Mild, flowery, very clean
• Finish: A bit smoke and peat, a bit peppery, apple, grass, malt, medium long

Comments: Not too dissimilar to the 12yo but with more tropical fruits in the nose. I quite like it but for similar money you can get the 18yo which I enjoy more.

84 points

Hakushu 18

This time I taste the Suntory Hakushu 18yo.
Hakushu (白州) is the second Suntory (サントリー) owned malt whisky distillery and a bit less known in the west compared to Yamazaki (山崎). The distillery itself is fairly new and opened in the 70s.
Hakushu 18yo 43.5% (Japanese bottlings are labeled 43% but I believe the regulations are just a bit more lax in Japan)

• Nose: Ripe sweet apples, a bit dry oak, fruity, mint, a little bit peat and smoke
• Mouth: Sweet and fruity, malt, moss
• Finish: Sweet apple with a tad caramel, a bit peat, a bit oak

Comments: The 18yo gains substance trough more oak influence but still remains fresh and immensely drinkable and imo ideal on a hot summer day.

87 points

(2012)