Hakushu – 25 Year Old (70cl, 43%)

Hakushu 25 Year Old is a Japanese single malt from Suntory's Hakushu distillery in the Southern Japanese Alps, in a 70cl bottle at 43% ABV. It is the most mature Hakushu expression. The malt has been matured for more than 25 years and combines three styles: one creamy yet strong, one gently smoky from thorough peat burning, and one with a deep fruit aroma from Spanish oak casks. It won World's Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards in 2018 and 2020. The colour is dark amber. The nose offers plum, cigar humidor and caramel, and the palate crème brûlée, sage, lavender and baked pineapple. The finish is long and pleasantly smoked, with a hint of hinoki cypress.