Review 185: Hakushu 12

Time for another Japanese whisky! I've only reviewed a few of these, but so far all have been at least pretty good. A 1967 Karuizawa is probably just about the best whisky I've ever tasted! The Hakushu 12 I'm reviewing today comes from Suntory (is this a relaxing time?), which owns both the Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries (plus some Scottish distilleries!). Hakushu 12's sister whisky, Yamazaki 12, was an excellent dram. I expect great things from this bottle, as unlike Yamazaki, Hakushu is peated!

Hakushu 12

Color: Amber -1

ABV: 43%

Aroma Neat:
Fresh Apples/Bosc Pears, Warm Cinnamon, Oily Coal Smoke, Cedar Wood/Cigar Box, Plum Wine, Vanilla Flowers, Lemon (slightly), Cut & Dried Grass (slightly), Sweet Cereal Grains.

Very "Glenfiddich 12" in style, but with light peat! Very warm and comforting.

Aroma Water: 
Ashy Smoke, Dried Apples (and apple juice... somehow, Mineralic Peat, White Pepper, Vanilla Malt Powder (malted milk even), Malt Must, Leafy Greens (spinach, grass).

Drier, spicier, and little more masculine than neat. 

Taste Neat: 
Sharp Cedar/Mizunara Spice, Hot Cinnamon Sticks, Cracked Black Pepper, Oak-Infused Honey, Light Char, Capzasin (slightly), Floral Perfume.



A piercing and spicy jolt at first. Char and honey jump in to smooth out the experience.

Taste Water:
Sun-Dried Peat, Maduro Cigar Wrappers, Peppery Honey & Cloves (Barenjager), Smoked Vanilla, Tangy Peat. 

Dries out with water and becomes more spicy, just like the nose. Fascinating...

Finish:
Oily Smoked Kippers, Tangy Peat, Sweet & Oaky Barrel Char, Dried Vanilla (slightly), Wax/Butter (very slightly).

Smoky, charred, waxy. Quite good! 

Conclusion:
A lighter whisky that is lightly peated. Best neat, but changes in interesting ways with a splash of water.

Complex development on the palate, from first contact through the finish.

A light, warming nose leads to a spicy, vivacious palate, that finishes smoky, burnt and oily. Delicious!

Rating: 89/100

Peat freaks probably won't be thrilled by this one. I think it's a high quality dram though. The development when tasting is superb and complex. Japanese whiskies have a reputation for being very "engineered." People aren't always being positive when they say that. In the case of Hakashu 12, it's a very good thing.

This whisky is a journey. I don't think I've ever had a dram that ended after swallowing so differently than it began on the nose. The palate manages to perfectly transition between to the. A truly "crafted" single malt.

Josh