Haku
Japan
Suntory's vodka, made from 100% Japanese white rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal. Distilled in Kagoshima per Suntory. Retailers say the spirit is filtered in Osaka, though Suntory's own page does not say so.
- Filtration
- Bamboo charcoal
- Congeners
- Very Low
- Histamines
- Very Low
- Polyphenols
- Very Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 98
- Sugar
- 0g
14g ethanol at 40% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓Rice base, so no gluten grain
- ✓No added sugar or additives
What to watch
- !Distillation count not published
Factor by factor
Congeners Very Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Very Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Very Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Haku is a Suntory vodka from 100% Japanese white rice, filtered through bamboo charcoal. The name refers to hakumai, white rice.
A rice base means no wheat, rye or barley, which puts it with the grain-free vodkas, and Suntory publishes no distillation count.
Haku questions
How many calories are in a shot of Haku? ▾
About 98 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 40% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Haku have sugar? ▾
No. Haku has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Haku gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Haku is made from japanese white rice. There is no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What is Haku made from? ▾
Haku is made from japanese white rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal.
What proof is Haku? ▾
Haku is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does Haku give you a bad hangover? ▾
Haku scores 2/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 2/10 for vodka overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Haku vegan? ▾
Yes. Haku is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.