Hakushu 12 Year

Peated Japanese whisky? That's a first for me. It's also my first Japanese whisky with an age statement. So far, I wouldn't hold this category in the same esteem as Scotch, Bourbon, Irish, or even American Rye. yet, I've enjoyed much of what I've had from Japan. Now I've got one of the country's premier products; hoping it delivers. Nose: Fruity. Green apple, apricot, and orange peel. Spearmint and parsley. Green and grassy. A touch of seaweed and a pinch of sea salt. Mild smoke appears as ash. Vanilla, honey, and oak. Palate: Green apple, pear, apricot, orange, and pineapple. Grassy and floral notes. Cucumber and maybe even a bit of kiwi and watermelon (the latter is a first for me.) Honey, vanilla, caramel, and milk chocolate. A touch of sea salt. No peat presence. Solid. More robust than the nose. Finish: Fruity and floral. Green notes with apple and apricot. Caramel and vanilla. Heavy malt. Cinnamon and oak. Moderate length. Nice way to round this one out. Overall? Pretty good. It's a different animal altogether; tough to compare it other whiskies I've reviewed. In a sense, it's the Oban 14 of the Japanese category. Not in terms of notes--at all actually. I draw that comparison only to highlight the uniqueness of lightly peated non-Islay whiskies. This has a completely unique profile. It's a great representative of Japanese whisky. It embodies some key characteristics of Scotch. It even hits like a blanco tequila at times. It's uniquely Hakushu when push comes to shove. And it's damn good dram. My only gripe is that is the price. I've heard through the grapevine that this used to be an affordable purchase. I got mine for $120 and that's the cheapest I've seen it for by a good amount. That aside, it's great whisky. With every bottle, I'm appreciating the Japanese category a little bit more.

Smokey, smooth

Sweet and smoky

Outstanding. Fruit and peat blend seamlessly from nose to finish. Sherry is certainly there with the fruit. Restrained like a good Japanese whisky, but plenty there to keep it interesting. Long, gentle and pleasantly astringent finish.

This is fantastic. I can understand the $200 price tag I've been seeing but glad I found it for cheaper.