I visited Suntory Hakushu distillery in Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi in Japan.
This place is recommended for whiskey lovers. The distillery is surrounded by forest. You can join a tour of whiskey production, tasting original malt, making highball with Hakushu, tasting a various of Suntory whiskies, Hakushu limited souvenirs... the place has many attractions. Children also be able to join the tour.
Contents
About Hakushu distillery tour
You need to make a reservation to enter the factory.
Suntory Hakushu Distillery
https://www.suntory.com/factory/hakushu/?_ga=2.207176666.896823793.1512464652-1553214823.1381758934
Hakushu distillery tour price is 1,000 JPY. English guidance is available by a machine.
There is a bus from Kobuchizawa Station to Hakushu distillery.
The driver cannot drink alcohol when you go to the distillery by a car.
The driver also be able to buy souvenirs.
Directions｜Suntory Hakushu Distillery
https://www.suntory.com/factory/hakushu/access/
South Alps Natural Water factory is located next to the distillery.
So, you can join the water factory tour too.
Starting the tour
Whiskey production
We completed reception. Driver receives a badge which indicates "I am a driver".
Tour attendees gather at the gathering place at the time. The place is in the front of a large pot still in the museum.
Barrels and old pot still are arranged at the gathering place.
The tour is started from a building for malting, fermentation, and distilling.
Introduction of raw materials for whiskey. Two-row barley, Malt, Peat, and Peated malt.
The fermentation is done in this huge pail.
We moved to the warehouse. The staff explains about kind of barrels and the method of making them.
Awesome a large quantity of barrels. I cannot drink everything by myself.
The change of amount between matured whiskey and not matured one. The whiskey amount becomes lower and its color gets deep . This is the angel's share.
Making highball
Making highball experience is performed after factory tour.
This door is for the place.
Tools for making highball are ready.
Not only standard Hakushu distiller's reserve, but also white oak raw unprocessed whiskey and lightly peated raw unprocessed whiskey were there. The raw unprocessed whiskies' alcohol is very strong. I cannot taste them easily, however, mixing water weaken the strength and keep the flavor.
I impressed the blenders' sense because they are blending them and making nice taste.
The explanation of the whiskey. The blenders sniff out these smells. My nose may not be able to do it.
Hakushu highball which I made. Putting a mint after smashing it like containing air. Hakushu is a clear, fresh taste whiskey. It becomes more fresh by the smashed mint.
This snack is a dry grape. One of the snack of "Tarukun" series which are sold only Suntory's factories. This is a very good snack.
"Tarukun" snacks are smoked foods with used whiskey barrels. I regretted to buy it at the shop. Mixed nuts are provided in the tour too.
* Tarukun
Taru = Barrel
Kun = Abbreviation of Kunsei(Smoked food)
Whiskey tasting(Paid)
There is a bar for tasting whikeys. Visitors can taste a various of Suntory's whiskies at low price.
I tasted Hakushu 12 years, Hakushu 18 years, and Hakushu 25 years. Each whiskey's amount is a half shot.
Basically, the more whiskey matured, the more get mellow, smooth taste.
I preferred Hakushu 12 years among them. Because the 12 years has good balance of youngness, fresh flavor and smoothness.
I tried Yamazaki 18 years, Hibiki 17 years, and Hibiki 21 years.
I do not remember the taste of Hibiki 21 years. Hibiki 17 years has fruity, sweet taste.
Yamazaki 18 years has more barrel flavor than Yamazaki 12 years. I would like to buy Yamazaki 18 years bottle.
The total 5,200 JPY. Very affordable price! If you want to try Suntory's whiskies, you should go the distilleries.
Other non-Japanese whiskies which are handled by Suntory are available.
帰り
We have "Houtou" at Dango-zaka Service area.
Hōtō - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dt%C5%8D
Souvenirs I bought at Hakushu
Here are the souvenirs which I bought at the shop in Hakushu distillery. There are a lot of goods made from used barrels. Whiskey lovers should have them.
- Whiskey barrel chopsticks
- Whiskey barrel dish for snack
- Whiskey barrel memo clip
- Whiskey barrel coaster
- Hakushu 12 years mini bottle (50ml)
- Hakushu shot glass
- Hakushu distillery limited whiskey
- Umeshu matured in a charred barrel at Yamazaki distillery
- Whiskey glass which is used by blenders at Suntory
The most recommended one is Hakushu distillery limited whiskey. 300ml at 1,440 jPY. This is affordable but so good. Taste is like between Hakushu distiller's reserve and 12 years. Quite smooth taste. I bought a set of Hakushu shot glass and the whiskey.
Suntory blender's whiskey glass is also recommended. This glass is very useful. There are lines at 30ml and 60ml. Users can recognize 1 shot and double shot easily. Making twice-up is easy.
The glass shape keeps odor of the whiskey. So, the glass is omnipotent.
I just visited the distillery, but I want to go to there again. That's how much I love it.