Honshu, Japan

Suntory (Hakushu)

The Forest Distillery — Fresh, Herbal, and Distinctly Japanese

Keizo Saji, the second-generation Suntory president, built Hakushu in 1973 during a period of Japanese whisky's explosive domestic growth. He chose the Minami Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture for the pristine mountain water — filtered through granite over centuries — and the cool, humid forest climate.

The distillery was originally massive, with 36 pot stills, but was downsized in 2012 as efficiency was prioritised over volume. Today, Hakushu operates 12 stills of varying shapes and sizes, allowing production of multiple spirit styles — from light and floral to medium-peated.

Est. 1973 Honshu, Japan Official Website

Founded

1973

Region

Yamanashi, Japan

Owner

Suntory

Altitude

~700m

Stills

12 (various shapes)

Forest

820,000 trees on site

The Story

Founded 1973

Hakushu 12 Year Old has become one of the most sought-after Japanese whiskies, frequently allocated and hard to find at retail. Its unique combination of green freshness and gentle smoke has no real equivalent in the whisky world.

The Hakushu Style

Hakushu's forest location — surrounded by 820,000 trees — contributes a freshness to the maturation that's genuinely unique. The high humidity and moderate temperatures create slow, gentle ageing that preserves the spirit's natural green, herbal character.

Some of Hakushu's malt is lightly peated (around 5–10 ppm), adding a whisper of smoke that interacts with the herbal freshness in unexpected ways. The result is a whisky that tastes like no other — green apple, mint, bamboo, and the faintest kiss of bonfire smoke.

Signature Notes

Green Apple Mint Bamboo Light Smoke Yuzu Fresh Herbs

Don't Miss

Hakushu 12 Year Old

Japan's 'forest malt.' Green apple, mint, light smoke, and bamboo in a whisky that tastes like a walk through the Japanese Alps. Impossible to find at retail, unforgettable when you do.