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Hakushu

Distillery
Hokuto-Shi, Japan
Average Rating

88.41

11 votes

Average Shop & Tour
  • 90.55
    Ambiance
  • 85.00
    Selection
  • 88.36
    Value
  • 89.73
    Service
  1. Kirei_kr scored this distillery 90 points Expert Senior

    Visited on February 22, 2025

    Paid tour: 3,000 yen


    The Hakushu Distillery requires a train trip from Tokyo. It involves roughly 10,000 yen in transportation costs and dedicating an entire day of your itinerary, which can be a burden. Nevertheless, the experience of visiting and taking the tour is highly enjoyable and more than worth the effort.


    The whiskies provided during the 3,000 yen paid tour were as follows:


    Hakushu Lightly Peated 43%

    Hakushu Peated 50%

    Hakushu Spanish Oak 50%

    Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve 43%


    Paid tastings are available after the tour. It is quite disappointing that the price for Hakushu and Yamazaki 25-year has increased to 20,000 yen.



    Total
    90
    Ambiance
    90
    Selection
    91
    Value
    90
    Service
    89

  2. ErJ Plus scored this distillery 89 points Connoisseur

    야마자키 증류소에 비해 찾아가는 길이 더 어려운 편입니다. 가급적이면 도쿄쪽에서 신칸센을 타고 1박 정도 하시는 것을 권장드립니다. (시간이 아까우면 당일치기도 가능)


    프레스티지 투어는 기본적으로 2시간 이상 소요되며, 증류시설, 웨어하우스 및 각종 시설들을 좀 더 많이 둘러볼 수 있습니다.  하쿠슈 바 및 스토어도 같이 구경하시다보면 3~4시간 이상은 소요되오니 여유있게 시간 계획을 잡고 오시는 것을 추천드립니다. 


    기본적으로 투어는 추첨에 당첨되어야만 가능하며, 가끔 취소표도 풀립니다. 하쿠슈에 오면 프레스티지 투어 기준 후회없는 투어가 진행되지만, 한 가지 아쉬운 점은 1인 1병만 구입이 가능하며, 위스키 선택지가 많지는 않습니다. 


    다만, 바에서는 고숙성을 포함한 위스키들을 맛볼 수 있으며, 아직 제가 야마자키 증류소를 가본 것은 아니지만 고숙성 일부는 야마자키보다 좀 더 비싼 것으로 보입니다. 


    하지만 전체적으로 매우 만족도 높은 투어였습니다. 

    Total
    89
    Ambiance
    93
    Selection
    81
    Value
    88
    Service
    95

  3. Slàinte Mhath Plus scored this distillery 86 points Super Administrator

    Suntory's second distillery lies at the foothills of the Southern Japanese Alps at about 700 meters above sea level. Although Hakushu is a bit more difficult to reach than Yamazaki, it is well worth a visit. Guided tours are available for 1,000 Yen and online reservation is necessary. You can visit the distillery on a day trip from Tokyo by using the JR Chuo Main Line to Kobuchizawa Station. Free shuttle busses operate on weekends and public holidays, while a taxi from and to the station will cost you about 5,000 Yen.

    Hakushu is indeed surrounded by beautiful forest, but unfortunately you are not allowed to walk off the beaten track. Suntory's watchdogs will escort you 'safely' to the visitor's centre, and there is no hiking possibility except for a touristy nature trail called 'bird sanctuary’. A whisky museum provides some history and background information on three different floors with an observation deck on top of the building.

    The distillery tour is held in Japanese, and you are instructed to use an app on your cell phone as English audio guide. Starting with a short video presentation, you are then guided through the production facility. Views were somewhat restricted because of the ongoing maintenance in July. Taking photos was allowed although a bit challenging due to the restrictions. A bus drove us to one of the warehouses where endless racks of whisky barrels piled up till under the ceiling. I had hoped to take a few pictures of the overgrown warehouses from the outside, but our watchdog quickly shooed us back into the bus.

    Very reminiscent to what was offered at Yamazaki, the tasting included a bourbon cask-matured, a lightly peated and the expected Hakushu NAS whisky. Once again, you had the option to prepare your own Highball. A wide range of Suntory malts could be bought at their bar, including all age statement whiskies. Hakushu 18, Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 21 costed 600 Yen, whereas Hakushu 25, Yamazaki 25 and Hibiki 30 were available for 2,900 Yen per dram. Yes, sir!

    Screaming kids in the hallway reminded me that I never quite understood why on earth children were allowed in Japanese distilleries. The Hakushu shop was utterly forgettable, they didn't even have their NAS malts or Chita in stock, not to mention any distillery-only bottlings. Disappointing, but not really unexpected.

    Altogether, a very enjoyable but slightly expensive and time-consuming distillery visit.


    Total
    86
    Ambiance
    85
    Selection
    88
    Value
    84
    Service
    87

  4. Isonone scored this distillery 86 points Expert Senior

    Take care Bus from trainstation to distillery is only running on Weekends during low season.

    Nice selection of Whisky can be bought by the glass at the bar after the tour if you like to taste more out of the Suntory range.

    Total
    86
    Ambiance
    90
    Selection
    80
    Value
    85
    Service
    90

  5. Theli scored this distillery 87 points Connoisseur

    Checked in again @ hakushu by today. Tour was avail. with a audio guide for english language and our tour guide could speak english. Saw the process without the spirit still but could see from a window the 16 different pot stills. A bus took us to a warehouse - approx. 20000 casks in stock. After the tour a tasting with hakushu nas malts but single malts. Hit the distillery shop at the end and bought 21 year old hibiki in 350 ml size plus a 300 ml distillery exclusive single malt (nas) with 43%

    Total
    87
    Ambiance
    90
    Selection
    83
    Value
    85
    Service
    88

  6. clay_shaper scored this distillery 93 points Expert Senior

    Total
    93
    Ambiance
    95
    Selection
    85
    Value
    95
    Service
    95

  7. Cast Olila scored this distillery 86 points Connoisseur

    Total
    86
    Ambiance
    92
    Selection
    82
    Value
    85
    Service
    85

  8. GLEN MAUR Plus scored this distillery 86 points Connoisseur

    Total
    86
    Ambiance
    91
    Selection
    82
    Value
    85
    Service
    86

  9. TheRareDram scored this distillery 100 points Member Senior

    Total
    100
    Ambiance
    100
    Selection
    100
    Value
    100
    Service
    100

  10. Theli scored this distillery 90 points Connoisseur

    Total
    90
    Ambiance
    90
    Selection
    88
    Value
    90
    Service
    92

Distillery location

Hokuto-Shi
Japan

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