🥃 Hakushu 18 Years Old
Hakushu whisky aged 18 years, with woody and fruity notes and a light smoke; 43.5% ABV according to a 2012 Whisky Advocate review.
Hakushu 18 Years Old is the older standing age-stated expression from the Hakushu distillery. The youngest whisky in it is 18 years old. Suntory's official website describes it as a fresh whisky with long maturation and a light smoke. The strength is 43.5% ABV, according to a 2012 Whisky Advocate review.
Like the rest of Hakushu, it is made from barley malt at the distillery near Mount Kaikomagatake, where the water is very soft. Longer maturation in oak casks gives more wood and ripe fruit. The official website names pear, dried mint, oregano, mango and honey with a long smoky finish; the Whisky Advocate reviewer noted a greater influence of sherry, orange peel and tropical fruit.
Why this matters to you. Compared with Hakushu 12 Years Old, there is less fresh green character and more wood, while Hakushu 25 Years Old is richer still. Do not confuse it with the 18 Peated Malt releases: these are separate limited editions. The WHO notes that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43.5% ABV (Whisky Advocate, 2012) |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 18 years |
| Cask type | oak casks |
| Raw material | barley malt |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | Standards for Japanese Whisky (Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association, from 01.04.2021; voluntary) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hakushu 18 Years Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Hakushu, 🥃 Japanese whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old
Frequently asked questions
Is Hakushu 18 the same whisky as 18 Peated Malt?
No. 18 Peated Malt comes in separate limited releases at 48% ABV, according to Whisky Advocate; the standard 18-year-old is a permanent expression.
What is the strength of Hakushu 18 Years Old?
43.5% ABV according to a 2012 Whisky Advocate review; check the label on your own bottle.
How old is Hakushu 18?
The youngest whisky in it is at least 18 years old.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🥃 Peated whisky — Whisky with a smoky aroma from malt dried over a peat fire; it is a style, not a separate legal category.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Hakushu Distiller's Reserve · 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old · 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old · 🥃 Yoichi Single Malt · 🥃 Ardmore Legacy · 🥃 Nikka Coffey Malt
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- House of Suntory (official): Hakushu 18 Years Old — fragrant wood, ripe fruit, honey, lingering smoke
- Whisky Advocate: Hakushu 18 year old, 43.5 % (Spring 2012 review)
- WHISKY Magazine: New Japanese whisky labelling standards released (Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association, effective 01.04.2021, voluntary)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)