Hakushu distillery

The Hakushu 12 Year Old Suntory's forest distillery sits deep on Mt. Kaikomagatake, and its 12 year old tastes like it: basil, pine needle and green apple up front, then pear and mint, with green tea and only a thread of smoke at the end. Pick this over Yamazaki if you like your whisky fresh and herbal rather than rich and fruity. It also makes the best case for a Japanese highball of any single malt, because the green notes survive a long pour of soda.