Haku Vodka

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40%

Special Features:

White Japanese rice and bamboo charcoal filtration shape Haku's character. Production begins with polishing the rice and fermenting it with rice koji. In Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu, this is distilled in pot stills to produce a rice spirit. Further distillation methods yield different distillates, which are brought together in Osaka.

Combining a neutral distillate with one that retains more rice character allows clarity and aromatic expression to be balanced. The porous bamboo charcoal then absorbs some of the unwanted compounds. Developed by Suntory, this filtration process contributes to the gentle mouthfeel while preserving the rice's delicate sweetness.

The name Haku refers to white rice and radiant whiteness. The design also draws on Japanese materials and craftsmanship: curved lines in the glass recall a clear stream, while the washi paper label bears calligraphy by the artist Tansetsu Ogino. The bottle contains 0.7 litres of vodka at 40% alcohol.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is soft, combining the sweetness of rice with delicate floral notes.
• Palate: A full rice flavour unfolds on the palate, its natural sweetness gradually filling the mouth.
• Finish: The finish is soft and silky, with pleasantly lingering, delicately integrated sweetness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Suntory's history began in 1899, when Shinjiro Torii founded its predecessor, Torii Shoten. Alongside wine and whisky, the company developed other spirits; in 1956, it launched its first vodka, HERMES VODKA. Haku builds on this experience in processing and distilling different raw materials.

For Haku, Suntory combines two production sites with distinct responsibilities. Kagoshima has a long tradition of making rice spirits and handles the initial stages through to distillation. At the Liquor Atelier in Osaka, the distillates are blended and filtered. The deliberate combination of different distillation methods is as important as the final treatment with bamboo charcoal.

Facts: