Hakushu Japanese Forest Bittersweet Edition Review
In-Depth Review
Just because a Japanese whisky doesn’t have an age statement, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek it out. That’s what I was telling myself as I stood in front of a whisky display case at a local Osaka liquor store back in January. I stood there debating between a 10 year Yoichi and the Hakushu Japanese Forest Bittersweet Edition. And despite its incredibly long and descriptive name, I knew nothing about the Hakushu. Even the bit of research I did while standing in front of the case yielded almost nothing. It’s bottled at 43% (which I couldn’t find on the bottle), comes from Hakushu distillery (the less well-known sister to Yamazaki), and it was apparently a limited release by Suntory in 2023. Beyond that – zilch.
It was only after I purchased the bottle, I learned that this was aged “exclusively in Spanish oak” and that it was going to show off a slightly different side of Hakushu than is found in their standard 12 year expression. I was excited; so excited that I forgot that I hadn’t opened this bottle until I rediscovered it this week. So even though there probably aren’t many left in the wild, let’s dive in and see how this non-age stated limited edition expression from Suntory holds up!
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 43%
Cask: Exclusively aged in Spanish oak (sherry) casks
MSRP: 180,000 Yen (Around $125)
Distillery Name: Hakushu Distillery (Suntory)
Review Date: 5/4/25
Color: Solid Amber
Nose: The nose starts off with honey syrup complimented by a dark earthy note, with raisins, dates, and mulled wine. As it settles into the glass it becomes orange marmalade, juicy fruit gum, and a touch of new leather. It has a big, round sherry note that remains delicate and light and never goes full sherry bomb. The sherry influence reminds me more of a Yamazaki product than anything. There’s none of the whisps of fruity smoke that I’ve always associated Hakushu with.
Palate: The palate is toasted sugar, molasses, prunes, and wood oil mixed with lighter notes of fresh green apples, crystalized ginger, and lemon honey. It remains delicate, with sherry notes woven throughout. It’s extremely well balanced with a mouthfeel that starts strong but can thin out as it heads towards the finish. The heat is well contained and adds to its restrained, delicate character.
Finish: Short to medium length finish with a gentle minerality and notes of rose water, soft oak, and a touch of lingering malt funk. After a few sips, more cherry cough syrup lingers before a last burst of red fruit sweetness. The finish falls off quickly can come off as thin.
Final Thoughts: In a world where great Japanese whisky prices are always exponentially rising, Hakushu Japanese Forest is a relatively affordable standout offering from Suntory. Despite its lack of an age statement, I would pick this over the more expensive Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12 every time. With its uncharacteristically sherry forward persona, and delicately balanced palate, this Japanese Forest Bittersweet Edition shows the sweeter side to the Suntory’s “forest distillery”. Its nose is fantastic, with a lovely burst of flavor right as it hits your tongue. The only thing keeping this from being exceptional is the relatively thin finish and its limited availability in Travel Retail and Japan. But if you’ve always wanted to explore what Hakushu is like without the smoke, this Japanese Forest expression is absolutely worth a pickup if you ever come across any of the few remaining bottles out in the wild.
