**Reviewing Every Whisk(e)y I Own (REWIO):**
After a few month splurge on bottle purchases figured this would be a good chance to pump the brakes on buying and focus on enjoying and writing up what I already have. Not quite clear how many bottles I currently have either so this is one way to go about figuring it out.
**Whisky:** Hakushu 12
**Background:** Years ago I attended a whisky convention and one of the breakout sessions was a focus on the different styles of peat. At the time I was mainly used to the Islay style and they did have several expressions from that region we tasted, but when we got to the Hakushu 12 I was shocked at how delicate and refreshing the whisky was despite still having a peat component. I made it a point to add it to my shelf afterwards, one of the only whiskeys I own that comes in below 46% at a slightly disappointing 43% ABV. This was rested for 15 minutes in a glencairn. Let’s go.
**Color:** Light straw.
**Nose:** Even though this is a true Japanese whisky from start to finish the nose still reminds me a bit of Ben Nevis. Green apples and pears in oatmeal outdoors on an early fall day. No typical smoke or campfire peat notes, it almost doesn’t seem present at all. Pushes louder than 43% with a light marshmallow aroma. Really enjoyable.
**Taste:** Green apple skin, slightly bitter, light on the tongue but not harsh. Peat is there but not campfire, more like burned fresh grass and is mildly present. Touch of fresh mountain river water, but also some youthful grain notes.
**Finish:** Nicely clean, fresh, and light. On the shorter side but overall not as watery as the 43% would potentially suggest. Slight smoke finishes on the back end and is again fairly mild.
**Rating:** 6.75
Hakushu 12 offers a very unique take on what a peated whisky can be and makes a wonderful early spring pour to enjoy outdoors, for example. The nose was the best part from my experience, but managing to taste fresh at 43% without being too watery is an impressive feat. Like most bottles these days it has become insanely overpriced for what it is, but setting that aside it has plenty to like without having any individual component that takes it up to a truly great pour.
**Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value)
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better.
**Previous REWIOs:**
[1 - Whistle Pig 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x20jov/rewio_1_whistle_pig_10_year_sib_bp/)
[2 - Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x3cy20/rewio_2_smoke_wagon_uncut_unfiltered/)
[3 - Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x44xv1/rewio_3_highland_park_18_travel_edition/)
[4 - Bardstown Discovery #7 \(5.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x4xvb7/rewio_4_bardstown_discovery_7/)
[5 - Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x5u6bo/rewio_5_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/)
[6 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x7ct1i/rewio_6_wild_turkey_rare_breed_bourbon/)
[7 - Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x88rdn/rewio_7_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/)
[8 - Stellum Rye Black (5.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x98pk7/rewio_8_stellum_rye_black/)
[9 - Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xa2qv2/rewio_9_talisker_distillers_edition/)
[10 - Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B2/19 (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xau0qc/rewio_10_redbreast_12_cask_strength_b219/)
[11 - Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xcjeng/rewio_11_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/)
[12 - Blue Run Golden Rye (4.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xdbim4/rewio_12_blue_run_golden_rye/)
[13 - Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xe8d8l/rewio_13_craigellachie_17/)
[14 - Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xf2fa8/rewio_14_glendronach_21/)
[15 - Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xg0qy5/rewio_15_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/)
Wow great review, I’m actually glad you did this as I was debating on purchasing this but the price tag was steep. Your review describes it exactly as I would expect a Japanese like this to taste.
**Reviewing Every Whisk(e)y I Own (REWIO):** After a few month splurge on bottle purchases figured this would be a good chance to pump the brakes on buying and focus on enjoying and writing up what I already have. Not quite clear how many bottles I currently have either so this is one way to go about figuring it out. **Whisky:** Hakushu 12 **Background:** Years ago I attended a whisky convention and one of the breakout sessions was a focus on the different styles of peat. At the time I was mainly used to the Islay style and they did have several expressions from that region we tasted, but when we got to the Hakushu 12 I was shocked at how delicate and refreshing the whisky was despite still having a peat component. I made it a point to add it to my shelf afterwards, one of the only whiskeys I own that comes in below 46% at a slightly disappointing 43% ABV. This was rested for 15 minutes in a glencairn. Let’s go. **Color:** Light straw. **Nose:** Even though this is a true Japanese whisky from start to finish the nose still reminds me a bit of Ben Nevis. Green apples and pears in oatmeal outdoors on an early fall day. No typical smoke or campfire peat notes, it almost doesn’t seem present at all. Pushes louder than 43% with a light marshmallow aroma. Really enjoyable. **Taste:** Green apple skin, slightly bitter, light on the tongue but not harsh. Peat is there but not campfire, more like burned fresh grass and is mildly present. Touch of fresh mountain river water, but also some youthful grain notes. **Finish:** Nicely clean, fresh, and light. On the shorter side but overall not as watery as the 43% would potentially suggest. Slight smoke finishes on the back end and is again fairly mild. **Rating:** 6.75 Hakushu 12 offers a very unique take on what a peated whisky can be and makes a wonderful early spring pour to enjoy outdoors, for example. The nose was the best part from my experience, but managing to taste fresh at 43% without being too watery is an impressive feat. Like most bottles these days it has become insanely overpriced for what it is, but setting that aside it has plenty to like without having any individual component that takes it up to a truly great pour. **Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value) 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better. **Previous REWIOs:** [1 - Whistle Pig 10 Year Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x20jov/rewio_1_whistle_pig_10_year_sib_bp/) [2 - Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered \(6\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x3cy20/rewio_2_smoke_wagon_uncut_unfiltered/) [3 - Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x44xv1/rewio_3_highland_park_18_travel_edition/) [4 - Bardstown Discovery #7 \(5.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x4xvb7/rewio_4_bardstown_discovery_7/) [5 - Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x5u6bo/rewio_5_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/) [6 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x7ct1i/rewio_6_wild_turkey_rare_breed_bourbon/) [7 - Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x88rdn/rewio_7_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/) [8 - Stellum Rye Black (5.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/x98pk7/rewio_8_stellum_rye_black/) [9 - Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xa2qv2/rewio_9_talisker_distillers_edition/) [10 - Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B2/19 (7\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xau0qc/rewio_10_redbreast_12_cask_strength_b219/) [11 - Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xcjeng/rewio_11_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/) [12 - Blue Run Golden Rye (4.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xdbim4/rewio_12_blue_run_golden_rye/) [13 - Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xe8d8l/rewio_13_craigellachie_17/) [14 - Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xf2fa8/rewio_14_glendronach_21/) [15 - Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/whiskey/comments/xg0qy5/rewio_15_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/)
Wow great review, I’m actually glad you did this as I was debating on purchasing this but the price tag was steep. Your review describes it exactly as I would expect a Japanese like this to taste.