Haku vodka, made from white rice in Japan’s Kogoshima region, will be available from April 1st.
Created by master distillers at House of Suntory, Haku’s name is taken from the word ‘Hakumai’, which translates in English to ‘white rice’, with an additional connotation to ‘Junpaku’, meaning ‘untainted brilliance’.
Haku’s production begins with white and koji rice fermentation, with the resulting mash being distilled in pot stills. A second distillation then occurs in pot and column stills, with the spirit being filtered through bamboo charcoal, a process the distillers say preserves and enhances the rice’s subtle flavours.
Haku’s strikingly sculpted bottle represents Japanese streams, and its washi-paper label carries both English and Kanji calligraphy script.
Nick Ganich, head of brands for Beam Suntory UK says: “We are thrilled to release Haku Vodka in the UK as part of the House of Suntory,” “The launch of this new vodka creates great opportunity for craft spirits enthusiasts to discover new tastes and experiences that further embody Shinjiro Torii’s vision of a challenge and quest for excellence.”