The Hakusha 12 Year Review

Company: Beam Suntory

Distillery: Hakusha Distillery, Hokum City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Age: 12 years

Style: Single Malt

ABV: 43% (86 proof)

Price: $120 (but ranges from $120 to $249, and above)

Bottom Line: An interesting whiskey that brings a lot to the table in terms of flavor, but falls short of the current high prices in the retail market. Hakusha 12 yr is a good whiskey, but there are other whiskies in the category that bring more value. 

Nose: A medium floral nose with inviting notes of geranium and fresh strawberries, with a pleasant undercurrent of light, earthy smoke. 

Palate: Well- balanced, juicy citrus and apple on the palate with floral notes, honey, and light smoke.

Finish: A light citrus finish that is smooth and brings the whiskey together well. 

Conclusion: Much of the hype around Hakusha 12 is overblown. It is a very good whiskey, and a great example of the Japanese category, but there is nothing here that warrants $120-$249 plus in stores. The strawberries on the nose and the juicy citrus fruit on the palate both set this whiskey apart for further reflection, but the whiskey does not have the depth and character to justify this price point. Undoubtedly, there will likely be many Japanese whiskey aficionados who will wholeheartedly disagree with this assessment, but with so many whiskies on the market there are other bottles much more worthy of these high prices.