Suntory Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Nose: Initially more smoke, more wood and more pine notes are present as compared to the Hakushu 12. This still comes off as herbal but is much darker and more brooding than its younger counterpart. There are also notes of pear, grape, and the smell of walking through an old tea shop. 

Palate: While the smoke is strong on the nose, its more subdued on the palate. Instead, melons, fruits, and toasted meringue interplay with earthy tones of bark, dark chocolate, and grass. As the whisky opens up in the glass, more pine, nuts and menthol shine while some of the nutty sweetness from the Sherry casks pokes through as well. An elegant and restrained palate. The mouthfeel is excellent and shows good body and texture for only 43%.

Finish: Hakushu 18 showcases a long finish and flavors of mint, grass, and a salty breeze. Not as bright and sweet as the Ymazaki 18, this is a more reserved expression of Japanese single malt.