Hakushu 18 Year Old Limited Edition

What it is

This is the 18 year old single malt from Hakushu, Suntory's mountain distillery in the Southern Japanese Alps, sold in a limited edition wooden box for the Japanese domestic market. Bottled at 43%. Importantly, retailers use the "Limited Edition" name loosely, and in most cases the liquid is the same Hakushu 18 that sits in the core range. It's the presentation that's limited, not the whisky.

Do not confuse it with Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt, the 100th Anniversary release bottled at 48%. That one genuinely is a different make.

Where it comes from

Suntory confirms that Hakushu single malt meets the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association labelling standard, and that all exported Suntory whisky is distilled, matured and bottled entirely in Japan. No imported whisky.

How it's made

Hakushu was built in 1973 at around 700 metres, deliberately chosen to produce something unlike Yamazaki. The altitude means a cooler, slower maturation, and the distillery runs stills of varying shapes and a second still house added in 1981, so the blenders have a wide range of distillate to work with. Hakushu uses lightly peated malt as part of its make, which is where the smoke comes from. Suntory doesn't publish the cask breakdown for the 18.

What to expect

Hakushu's signature is green and herbal, and eighteen years adds weight without burying it. Expect orchard fruit, cut grass and a light smoke that sits well back. It's the freshest of the aged Suntory malts and the one people reach for when Yamazaki feels too rich.

How it compares

Against Hakushu 12 the 18 is deeper and more layered but keeps the same character, so the 12 is better value and the 18 is the one you buy when you want more of it. Against Yamazaki 18 it's the classic Suntory split: Hakushu green and smoky, Yamazaki fruity and sherried. Neither is the better whisky, they're built to be different.