Suntory Hakushu Heavily Peated

Hakushu (pronounce ‘hack-shoe’) released this Heavily Peated on the market in 2009. It serves as the Japanese answer to the popular Islay whiskies. It is very light in color and bottled at 48% ABV.

The nose is indeed fairly peated, but not quite as strong as an Ardbeg or Laphroaig, mind you. It remains pretty subdued. A bit coastal and meaty, but rather simple. Some vanilla and green apples, oyster juice, sea water and a touch of ashes.

The peat is more pronounced on the palate, that is very peppery. Wonderfully sweet, too, with green apples again (peelings more like), vanilla and salt. If tasted blind, I might confuse this with a Ileach. You might too, I suppose. A young Caol Ila or Laffie.

The finish, medium in length, remains on green apples and some white pepper. Fresh, though.

A nicely peated whisky, that can hold its own next to its cousins on Islay. But to fork over 80 EUR for this? I would rather buy two bottles of Laphroaig 10.

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