🥃 Hakushu Distiller's Reserve
Hakushu expression without an age statement, released in 2014: a blend of lightly and heavily peated malt whisky matured in oak; 43% ABV.
Hakushu Distiller's Reserve is a release from the Hakushu distillery without an age statement. Suntory launched it in 2014 alongside Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve; according to The Spirits Business, the first markets were the United Kingdom and France. The strength is 43% ABV, according to The Spirits Business and The Whiskey Wash.
According to The Spirits Business, it is a blend of lightly and heavily peated malt whisky matured in American oak. The Whiskey Wash writes that the youngest components are combined with whiskies up to 20 years old from American white oak casks. The brand says that dropping the age statement lets it keep the intended flavour. The official website describes the taste as yuzu, grapefruit and thyme with a light smoke.
Why this matters to you. This is the youngest and lightest entry into the Hakushu style; Hakushu 12 Years Old has a guaranteed age and a deeper taste. The brand also mentions this expression as a highball base. The WHO notes that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% ABV |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | no age statement |
| Cask type | including American white oak casks |
| Raw material | lightly and heavily peated barley malt |
| Year founded | 2014 |
| 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 Distiller's Reserve → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 American white oak
- 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, 🥃 Yamazaki, 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old, 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old
Frequently asked questions
Is Hakushu Distiller's Reserve made only of young whisky?
No. There is no age statement, but according to The Whiskey Wash the blend includes whiskies up to 20 years old from American white oak casks.
What is the strength of Hakushu Distiller's Reserve?
43% ABV, according to The Spirits Business and The Whiskey Wash.
When did Hakushu Distiller's Reserve appear?
In 2014: first in the United Kingdom and France, then in other markets.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 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.
- 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old — The oldest Hakushu expression: a whisky of at least 25 years, rich and smoky; 43% ABV according to Whisky Advocate.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Hakushu 18 Years Old · 🥃 Hakushu 12 Years Old · 🥃 Hakushu 25 Years Old · 🥃 Yoichi Single Malt · 🥃 Scapa Skiren · 🥃 Miyagikyo Single 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 Distiller's Reserve — gently smoky single malt with herbal notes
- The Spirits Business: Suntory releases NAS Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies (07.03.2014; Distiller's Reserve, 43 %, lightly and heavily peated malts plus American oak-matured whisky)
- The Whiskey Wash: Suntory's Yamazaki, Hakushu Offer Up New Distiller's Reserve Whiskies (19.05.2014; no age statement, 43 %, American white oak)
- 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)