Suntory
Japan has in recent years emerged as one of the global heartlands of whisky making. No longer a mere imitator or a young upstart, this whisky-mad country ranks firmly alongside Scotland, Ireland and the United States as a classic whisky-producing nation, described by the Whisky Bible's Jim Murray as the nation where "the finest can now be found". The titan of the Japanese Whisky landcape is easily Suntory and their stable of distilleries represents not only the best of Japan but arguably of Scotland as well with their holdings now including Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Laphroaig as well. Closer to home the Hakushu distillery in the heart of the Nihon Arupusu (Japanese Alps) mountains has emerged as one of the most important centres of distilling in the country, winning award after award, as it establishes itself among the finest Single Malts on Earth. As Bill Murray once said, "for a relaxing time, make it Suntory time..."
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Yamanashi | 3 | 90 (WHA) | HK$3,735.00 | |||||
Whisky Advocate (90)Unlike their colleagues in Scotland, Japanese distillers do not exchange stock for their blending requirements. This means that each distillery is set up to produce a wide range of styles. Hakushu uses four different types of malt (unpeated to heavy) run through four pairs of differently-shaped stills. Each single malt is a different blend of these bases. While still herbal, this example shows more sherried notes along with sour orange zest, tropical fruit, and some smoke. Complex. |
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1 | 93 (WHA) | HK$12,180.00 | ||||||
Whisky Advocate (93)Deep layers of vanilla and mizunara oak with sugar sprinkled pastries, incense sticks, oiled wood, tatami, dried apricot, golden sultana, and faint smoky spiciness. Nectarous mouthfeel with honey, barley sugar, dried citrus, orange peel, and delicate spices, it continues to sweeten beautifully showing vanilla, sugared almonds, banana custard, with hints of ginger and gentle oak. Slightly gummy finish as the vanilla quenches little eruptions of wood spices. |
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Shimamoto | 2 | 93 (WHA) | HK$1,350.00 | |||||
Whisky Advocate (93)The first thing you notice is the elegant fragrance of lychee, spring blossoms, lily, rosewater, and raspberry meringue. Deeper in, grassy notes with star fruit, kumquat, and kaffir lime leaves. The flavors offer perfection in their simplicity: silky honey, soft spices, crystalized pineapple, barley sugar, lemon, and orange. On the finish, the spices chatter on and on as the sweet citrus and honey fade in and out. One to cherish. |
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Shimamoto | 2 | 93 (WHA) | HK$7,745.00 | |||||
Whisky Advocate (93)The first thing you notice is the elegant fragrance of lychee, spring blossoms, lily, rosewater, and raspberry meringue. Deeper in, grassy notes with star fruit, kumquat, and kaffir lime leaves. The flavors offer perfection in their simplicity: silky honey, soft spices, crystalized pineapple, barley sugar, lemon, and orange. On the finish, the spices chatter on and on as the sweet citrus and honey fade in and out. One to cherish. |
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