Japanese whisky "Hakushu," which Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gifted to Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, is facing a shortage across major retail channels in Korea.
According to the industry on the 31st, the previous day CEO Huang met Chairman Lee and Chairman Chung at a chicken restaurant in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and gave them Hakushu whisky as a gift. The whisky was prepared by Huang's daughter, Madison Huang.
Hakushu is a premium single malt whisky brand from Japan's Suntory, imported and sold by Jim Beam Suntory Korea. Made at the Hakushu Distillery in Japan, the premium whisky offers notes of fruit and sweet flavors. A smoked finish reminiscent of hinoki aroma is its hallmark.
In particular, the Hakushu gifted by CEO Huang is a 25-year expression, a rare whisky with a market price of around 7 million won. It is considered hard to find not only in Korea but also in the global whisky market.
As a result, consumers are seeking other Hakushu products from the same distillery. Compared with the 25-year Hakushu, lower-tier products with relatively lower prices and greater accessibility, such as "Hakushu DR" and "Hakushu 12 Years," have already sold out at major retailers.
At Lotte Mart, "Hakushu DR" is sold out, and at Wine & More operated by Shinsegae L&B, both "Hakushu DR" and "Hakushu 12 Years" are sold out.
With the meeting drawing attention to other whisky lineups from Japan's Suntory Hakushu Distillery, whisky enthusiasts are voicing concerns that other products under the Suntory umbrella and Japanese whiskies could also face shortages.