Haku Japanese Pure Plain Craft Vodka 70cl / 40%

Haku Japanese Craft Vodka is a rice vodka from the House of Suntory, distilled from 100% Japanese white rice and bottled at 40% ABV in a 70cl bottle. Haku means "white" in Japanese, a reference to the polished rice behind it. Suntory filters the spirit through bamboo charcoal, which helps give it a soft, round and gently sweet profile. It suits people who enjoy Japanese food and drink, as well as anyone who prefers a mellow vodka for sipping on ice.

Haku tasting notes

• Nose: Delicate steamed rice, white flowers and a hint of almond.
• Palate: Soft and round, with subtle sweetness and a silky texture.
• Finish: Clean, light and slightly nutty.

How to drink Haku vodka

Chill the bottle and serve 25 ml neat or on a single large ice cube in a rocks glass. Its gentle profile pairs with sashimi, salted cucumber, chawanmushi and light seafood dishes. It is a natural companion to a Japanese-style dinner at home and makes a quiet, refined aperitif on a summer evening.

Haku vodka cocktails

• Saketini: 50 ml Haku and 20 ml dry sake stirred over ice, strained into a chilled martini glass and garnished with a thin cucumber slice.
• Haku Ginger Highball: 40 ml Haku over ice in a tall glass, topped with 120 ml ginger ale and a slice of fresh ginger.
• White Peach Smash: 45 ml Haku, 30 ml white peach purée and 10 ml lemon juice shaken with ice and strained over crushed ice.

How it compares

Nikka Coffey Vodka, the other big Japanese vodka here, uses corn and barley and leans towards citrus and cream. Ukiyo Rice Vodka also starts from rice but includes Okinawan awamori, so it smells earthier, whereas Haku is cleaner and more polished. Haku is the gentlest of the three.

Good to know

Suntory Haku vodka sits alongside the group's Japanese whiskies and its Roku gin. As a vodka made from Japanese white rice, it makes a considered gift for a fan of Japanese food or whisky. Wodka Company delivers Haku Japanese Craft Vodka 70cl to UK addresses from its London shop.