The master artisans of the House of Suntory proudly present their latest creation, HAKU Vodka, the House’s first premium craft Japanese vodka, and the latest addition to its new premium spirit trilogy.
An ode to monozukuri craftsmanship – the relentless quest for perfection, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to quality – HAKU Vodka serves as the perfect response to Australia’s ever-growing demand and desire for Japanese spirits.
There is no doubt that Japan and its spirits has piqued Australian interest, with Japanese spirits consistently outranking their European counterparts and competitors in the hearts and minds of Australian consumers. And the fascination with Japan doesn’t stop there, in 2018 a record-breaking number of Australians visited the land of the rising sun.
The House of Suntory is the founding father of this phenomenon. Founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii against the backdrop of the Meiji era, a period of rapid modernisation, Shinjiro’s dream was to create quintessentially Japanese spirits suitable for the local palate. Today, these iconic north star products such as Chita, Hakushu, Yamazaki, and Hibiki have paved the way for the next generation, the new premium spirit trilogy: ROKU Gin, TOKI Whisky and now, HAKU Vodka.
Lennart Sipsma, Group Marketing Manager at Beam Suntory Australia says, “We are very excited to continue meeting Australia’s demand for Japanese craft spirits through HAKU Vodka. This new House of Suntory spirit allows consumers to experience a new take on a classic, one that challenges the norm and embodies Mr. Shinjiro Torii’s perpetual quest for excellence.”
HAKU Vodka’s artfully complex and unique creation process begins in Kagoshima with 100% pure Japanese white rice that is fermented into a koji mash. This is then distilled twice, before it travels to Suntory’s Liquor Atelier in Osaka where it is blended and filtered using the House of Suntory’s proprietary bamboo charcoal method, expelling all impurities to ensure a clean, pure spirit.
“At the House of Suntory, craftsmanship has always translated to sourcing the best ingredients, and elaborating on complex and innovative techniques to create unrivaled quality products”, says Kazuyuki Torii, lead Suntory Specialist (White Spirits).
“HAKU Vodka was developed from a very specific vision, to create a truly authentic and meticulously crafted Japanese product with a distinct and balanced taste”.
The name HAKU Vodka stems from the Japanese kanji, translating to ‘white’. This kanji is rooted in the word ‘hakumai’, meaning ‘Japanese white rice’. The spirit’s name is elevated through its nuanced meaning to invoke ‘junpaku’ – ‘pure white’, a connotation to its untainted brilliance.
HAKU Vodka will be available at all key retailers across Australia from September 2019 at a suggested retail price of $65.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: A soft aroma played up by the sweet, delicate floral aroma of rice.
Taste: A rich taste that gradually envelops the mouth with the natural sweetness and complex flavour of the rice.
Finish: A smooth finish with a sophisticated, pleasantly lingering sweetness thanks to the bamboo charcoal filtration process.
ABV: 40% vol. 700ml
HAKU SODA (SIGNATURE SERVE)
30 ml HAKU Vodka
120 ml soda water
Lime twist
Add cubed ice to a highball glass and stir to chill glass, add HAKU Vodka and stir to chill. Top with soda and finish with a lime garnish.
