Japanese Craft Vodka | Rice Vodka | Suntory® HAKU® Vodka

HAKU^® Vodka

THE JAPANESE CRAFT VODKA

Made with 100% Japanese white rice, the name Haku® means “white” in Japanese. The word can also be read as “brilliant” – a tribute to the craft of

mastering a clear, clean, and luminous vodka. Filtered through bamboo charcoal, Haku® has an unparalleled soft, round, and subtly sweet taste.

Made with 100% Japanese white rice, the name Haku® means “white” in Japanese. The word can also be read as “brilliant” – a tribute to the craft of mastering a clear, clean, and luminous vodka. Filtered through bamboo charcoal, Haku® has an unparalleled soft, round, and subtly sweet taste.

FROM HOUSE OF SUNTORY

Founded in 1899, the House of Suntory was built on one man’s dream. Shinjiro Torii, who at the age of 20 wanted to “create an original Japanese spirits blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and ‘monozukuri’ craftsmanship : a relentless pursuit for perfection, meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality.”

Shinjiro overcame numerous hardships to make his dream a reality, creating wine, whisky and brandy, and launching Hermes Vodka – the first Suntory Vodka – in 1956. Shinjiro and his family continuously pushed his vision with the same challenging spirit, applying the philosophy of “yatte minahare” (go for it), to challenge market conventions and introduce innovative quality spirits for the world.

“SOMEDAY, SPIRITS PRODUCED IN JAPAN WILL BE LOVED ALL OVER THE WORLD.”

Today, the House of Suntory is proud to introduce Haku, the Japanese craft vodka. Haku^® is crafted with the Nature and Spirit of Japan, true to the vision of Suntory’s founder.

A unique savoir faire of Suntory’s artisans, it is now ready for the world to discover. The creation and perfection of Haku^® is based on more than 100 years of experience and expertise.

PRODUCT

HAKU^® VODKA

Unparalleled soft, round and subtly sweet taste.

Nose : A soft aroma played up by the sweet, delicate floral aroma of rice.

Palate : A rich taste that gradually envelops the mouth with the natural sweetness and complex flavor of the rice.

Finish : A smooth finish with a sophisticated, pleasantly lingering sweetness thanks to the bamboo charcoal filtration process.

More Details

INTRODUCING HAKU

The name Haku^® celebrates the origin and the craft of this Premium Japanese Vodka. The kanji (Japanese character) for Haku^® means “white”. But the subtlety of the Japanese language often gives kanji several readings. Read as “shiro” it would merely means white. But read as “haku”, it is intentionally rooted and elevated.

Rooted as referring to “Hakumai” (白米) – Japanese white rice- the origin of the liquid. Elevated as evoking “Junpaku” (純白) - “untainted” and brilliant – a tribute to the craft of mastering a clear, clean and luminous vodka, carefully filtrated through bamboo charcoal for an unparalleled soft, round and subtly sweet taste.

THE DESIGN

The product design harmonizes the Japanese traditional aesthetic with an evolving modernity. To convey it as a Japanese Craft Vodka, we use Japanese material with a touch of artisanal quality — simple and pure. Through the curved lines on the bottle, we represent the stream glistening through Japanese nature and Japan’s four seasons.

The label design consists of Junpaku (pure-white) washi paper — representing the beauty of Japanese white rice, which is the soul of this vodka — and Kanji calligraphy “Haku” with sumi ink, as well as red and gold colors only. The result: a minimal and modern Japanese design, free of unnecessary adornments.

THE CRAFT OF HAKU

At Suntory, the artisans of the House are committed to selecting the best ingredients, and elaborating on complex and innovative making techniques to create spirits of unrivaled quality and unique Japanese character. It is the signature

of the House of Suntory‘s “Monozokuri” craftsmanship. Haku is a new iteration of that philosophy, and inherits Shinjiro Torii’s vision of challenge and quest of excellence. Haku, the Japanese craft vodka.

HAKUMAI – 100% PURE JAPANESE RICE

Contrary to what the West may perceive, Japanese white rice has never been considered a “staple” of a Japanese meal. To this day, pure white Japanese rice is respected as a luxury. Traditionally, white Japanese rice was always reserved for worship and for the wealthier noble classes, including the Imperial Family.

Milled and polished to perfection, white rice is revered for its mild and subtly sweet flavor. Pure white Japanese rice is the ultimate symbol of Japan. It genuinely conveys Suntory’s commitment to working with the best and most authentic ingredients from Japan.

A UNIQUE PROCESS WITH 3 DIFFERENT DISTILLATIONS

First, the white rice is fermented with “rice koji” to create a mash. The mash is then distilled through pot stills to create a rice spirit. This process takes place in Kagoshima, in Kyushu, a region historically famous for its rice spirit making know-how.

The distillate is then distilled a second time through two different processes to create both flavor and volume, before being blended and filtrated in Osaka, at Suntory’s Liquor Atelier. A process unique to Suntory, it preserves and enhances the rice’s delicately sweet and subtle flavors.

BAMBOO CHARCOAL FILTRATION

Part of the unique creation process behind Haku, the bamboo charcoal filtration is a Suntory proprietary method. Like a sponge, the charcoal absorbs the impurities present in the distillate, eliminating anything that might detract from the taste. This gives the vodka a clean and clear flavor. Moreover, the minerals from the bamboo charcoal add a remarkably smooth and mellow character.

The use of bamboo charcoal for water filtration is one of the fundamentals of Japanese culture and goes back to ancient Japan where charcoal was said to “sweeten” the water for tea. It is known for its incredible filtering ability, which comes from its super-porous structure. As bamboo is a fast-growing plant, supply is abundant and sustainable in Japan.