so on my trip to Vietnam, i choose to stopover in Japan.
main purpose was to take a tour of one of the Suntory distilleries.
I like Hakushu alot, and seeing that it was easier to get to than yamazaki (near osaka), i booked the tour (3 months in advance).
cost was about $240-250 cad (2ppl/express train), plus cab to from distillery, and 10000 yen p/p (tour fee, very cheap!).
was given a english audio/tour handheld guide.
we first walked to building where mashing/mixing and fermentation process takes place. then pot stills, and distillation.
last was where Hakushu is matured. This was just amazing. all the intense smell just overwhelm you.
Some people had to leave the room as they weren't able to take strong whiskey aroma.
Lastly, the tasting room.
got to take oak cask hakushu (not sold anymore) and others.
Even Hakushu distillery didn't have any aged whiskey on hand, neither did most liq stores. i bought what i could find + considering i already had purchased a few bottles of other stuff (over limit already
)..
i picked up a few bottles from various airports and in japan. (missed out on some good selection in Hanoi airport, thinking Philippines airport would have better selection/prices
)
my haul from this trip..
