Hakushu Tsukuriwake 2024 Peated Malt 48% NV

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Distillery	Hakushu
Bottler	OB
Serie	Tsukuriwake 2024
Bottled for
Distilled date	Not Specified
Bottling date	2024
Country	Japan
Region	Japan
Age	18
Cask Type
Cask Number
Alcohol %	48%
Volume	0,70
Condition	Perfect
Label	Perfect
Stock	5

Professional reviews

BOW (90)

The Hakushu Peated Malt Aged 18 Years showcases the mastery of blending ingredients, techniques, and terroir. Drawing on a rich history of using peated malt, the House of Suntory's blenders expertly use Hakushu's unique climate to unlock the nuanced flavors hidden within the robust smoky character of the malt. The whisky’s long maturation, enriched by Hakushu’s pristine water, unfolds a wave of clean smoke, which gradually deepens into herbaceous mineral notes and subtle hints of ripe apples.

Color: Luminous gold
Nose: Fresh and vibrant, with top notes of sage, ripe green apple, and subtle hints of pineapple.
Palate: A complex smoky profile, unveiling layers of herbal notes, grapefruit, and acacia honey.
-Finish: Clean, lingering smoke with undertones of fresh green citrus.

Serge Valentin (91)

Now, I haven't the faintest idea if the peat here is from Islay (I don’t believe anyone uses Japanese peat, do they?), but last year's edition was absolutely magnificent and very… Laphroaiggian. That said, Suntory only acquired Beam, which owned Laphroaig since 2005, in 2014. Colour: gold. Nose: curiously, it’s rounder and more honeyed than Yamazaki at first, with soft resins leading the way before moving into a medicinal territory, with camphor and ointments, almost as if you’d smoked some candied tangerines. But it remains wonderfully gentle, with notes of heather honey and white clover. Fresh mastic and fern also make a delicate appearance. Mouth: magnificent, on par with this year’s Yamazaki for me (which wasn’t quite the case in 2023). Pine buds, vegetal tar, grapefruit and myrtle liqueur, a touch of juniper, and loads of fir honeydew. And I do adore fir honeydew, I must say. Finish: more of the same, with everything coming together around that fir bud liqueur. There’s a slight toothpaste note in the aftertaste, but that’s surely the finest, rarest toothpaste in the world. Chlorophyll, eucalyptus, and just a whisper of… old Laphroaig, ha. Comments: it’s incredibly expensive, but also incredibly good.