akkeshi distillery
Located in Japan’s northern most island of Hokkaido and further east than any other distillery in the country, production at Akkeshi Distillery started in 2016. The town of Akkeshi has a cool, moist climate with frequent rolling sea fog that blankets the town coming off the marshes of the Bekan-Beushi wetlands. Fog and marshes like these are indispensable to the production of whisky with similar characteristics to Islay malts. Operating in this bountiful natural environment, Akkeshi Distillery will be a sustainable enterprise in harmony with nature.
The goal of Akkeshi Distillery is to blend traditional Scottish methods with the unique flavors of Akkeshi, Japan. With extremely unique aromas and flavors unlike anything else these whiskies will be a delight to aficionados worldwide. Akkeshi Distillery is the true embodiment of craftsmanship and is on track to be a leader in the highest quality Japanese whisky world.
PRODUCTS
Akkeshi Blended Whisky Shosetsu 48.0% ABV
Shosetsu is the 20th of Japan's Seki and is the 13th release in Akkeshi's ongoing series. The season is reflective of a time in the year when snow can just barely be seen on mountain peaks and the temperature begins to drop in the west. Like prior releases, Shosetsu's main malt is matured in Hokkaido mizunara barrels and is supported by a variety of casks, as well as imported grain whisky. This blend has a vibrant, citrusy nose, full of candied lemons, pickled ume, and sweet grains. The palate is plenty citrusy, showing off bright, bitter orange peel, accompanied by smokey cedar. Shosetsu's finish is a complex balance of bitter lemon peels and rich vanilla cream.
Akkeshi Single Malt Hakuro 55.0% ABV
The continuing bottlings of whisky from Akkeshi known as the 24 Seki Series returns with it's 12th release. The single malt Hakuro refers to the time of year when the summer heat begins to wain and the cool of autumn starts to settle. Continuing with their primary aging of malt in mizunara barrels, Hakuro shows much more of those trademark sandalwood aromatics on the nose that are accompanied by honey, Dakea bread, and pastry cream. Ine palate Is rich ana smokey with a delicate persimmon like sweetness throughout. The finish is all bittersweet chocolate, black tea, and smokey incense. Akkeshi Hakuro Is a beautitul representation or seasonal change in licula torm
akkeshi "shoman" blended whisky 48% ABV
This is the eleventh release in Akkeshi’s now infamous Twenty-Four Season series. Shoman which is the eighth season in the solar year, represents a time when life is beginning to flourish after the thaw of winter. Shoman comes from the phrase “nature thrives” when crops begin to yield new growth, promising a fruitful harvest. In Akkeshi the cherry trees’ leaves have begun to turn a pale pink, signaling the full beauty of spring that is to come. This malt and grain blended whisky uses whisky matured in Hokkaido Mizunara its main blending element that is vatted with whisky matured in a variety of barrels including ex-rum casks. This blend sits right at the crossroads of savory and sweet with golden apple, muscat grapes, and tropical fruits that intermingle with charred wood, maple bacon, and white pepper.
akkeshi sarorunkamuy 48.0% ABV
Translating to "white crane" in Ainu, Sarorun Kamuy is the first official single malt from Japan's buzzing Akkeshi Distillery, located in a National Park on the northern Hokkaido island. This whisky is aged in Mizunara, bourbon, sherry and red wine casks and recently took home a Double Gold from SFWSC 2020 in the "Other Single Malt" category. Total of 3,000 bottles released to the US.
tasting notes
Delightful notes of strawberry, chocolate, yuzu citrus, cherries, & vanilla.
akkeshi single malt 58% ABV
The second of four new born whiskies launched prior to inaugural single malt release in 2020. Meant to be a collectors preview of what is to come, one thousand 200 ml bottles of release 2, 3 & 4 will make their way to the US. Release 1 will be last to arrive in the US and will complete the set. Heavily peated aged ex bourbon barrels 8-17 months.
tasting notes
Being heavily peated & aged in ex-bourbon barrels, you get a bold yet clean peatiness coupled with hints of sea salt & citrus and a subtle blooming rich flavor.
akkeshi "keichitsu" single malt 55% ABV
Keichitsu is representative of the season when the earth begins to warm, and the first new buds begin to bloom. This tenth release from the Akkeshi’s “Twenty-Four Season Series,” like its namesake season, is evocative of the first rays of spring sunshine to warm the soul. Subtle sweetness and signature, rich peat join flavors of mandarin, honey, black tea, and bittersweet chocolate. Akkeshi have crafted a dram that is as pretty as the first days of spiring.
akkeshi new born "foundations 4" 48% ABV
Akkeshi New Born "Foundations 4" is a blend of malts and grains matured in sherry and other specially prepared casks for 13-30 months. Crafted with over 60% malts, it is made with only unblended malt whisky distilled and matured at Akkeshi Distillery and unblended grain whisky made from a new type of Scottish grain spirit that was barreled at Akkeshi Distillery and matured in the Akkeshi environment. More than half of the unblended malt whisky was matured in sherry casks and made with 5% "Ryofu" malting barley grown in Hokkaido. Reminiscent of the Hokkaido heartland, the flavor has been carefully curated for relishing a peaceful moment of hard-earned downtime.
tasting notes
Satsuma potato & raisin on the nose, salted caramel & raisin butter on the palate with a spicy white pepper & bitter-sweet finish
AKKESHI "RITTO" SINGLE MALT 55% ABV
The 5th release in Akkeshi's "24 Sekki" Series. This is the season when the first snow makes their presence felt in the northern prefectures. As the colors of winter deepen, so do the sweet flavors of Akkeshi malt whisky in casks, gradually becoming more full and bold. Enjoy this precious moment of the new year with the Akkeshi malt made from locally grown Hokkaido barley.
tasting notes
Brown sugar, fruit basket, chocolate soy sauce, sweetness and acidity of citrus fruit, white pepper, barbecue, a sweet orange-like notes.
AKKESHI USUI 2021 48% ABV
“Akkeshi Blended Whisky Usui”. More than half of the malt is from the Akkeshi Distillery, that is blended with imported new make spirits of grain, finally barreled at the Akkeshi Distillery and aged for over 3 years. It has now been 6 years since the operation of the first distillery in Akkeshi town in Hokkaido began. This whiskey is the result of our uncompromising commitment to manufacturing and the widespread recognition of Akkeshi's environment as the best place for whiskeys. As in Islay, the distillery is located on the seafront with the Pacific Ocean a few meters away. Surrounded by marshes, it also has direct access to local peat.. This Akkeshi whiskey is the second of the '24 Solar term series'. The series is inspired by the ancient Asian calendar where a year is divided into 24 solar seasons. Profile: Harmonious, soft, peaty. Cocoa, citrus, pepper.
tasting notes
Scent: Dark cacao, custard pudding, raisins, citrusy aromas
Taste: Refreshing taste of lemon, lime and orange curacao
Afterglow: White pepper-like spicy, milk chocolate-like sweetness continues
AKKESHI KANRO 55% ABV
This is the first installment of the Akkeshi whiskey "24 solar terms series".
Kanro is "17" of 24 solar terms.
Around the end of the long autumn rain, cold dew dwells in the wildflowers, marking the beginning of full-scale autumn.
Enjoy straight, of course, a small amount of water, TWICE up, on the rocks, or whatever you like.
If you take your time and drink slowly, the scent will bloom and you can enjoy it even more.
tasting notes
Scent: A Profound Scent With A Sweet Atmosphere Like Dried Fruits
Afterglow: White Pepper-like Spicy, Chocolate-like Sweetness Continues
Strawberry, Orange, Apple, Cereal Aroma With Lemon Acidity And Milky Sweetness
AKKESHI BOSHU 2021 55% ABV
This is the third installment of the Akkeshi whiskey "24 solar terms series".
Enjoy the early summer with malt grown while listening to the tides of Akkeshi Bay.
tasting notes
Scent: Milk Chocolate, Dried Fruits, Nutty And Sweet Aroma, Bonfire, Peat-like Smoke
Afterglow: Tide (Salt), Cacao Bitter (Bitter), Citrus-like Sweetness Continues
Citrus-like Acidity, Sugar Syrup-like Sweetness
Akkeshi Taisetsu “The Great Snowfall” Single Malt Whisky 55% ABV
Special Notes: 9th release in Akkeshi’s “24 Seki Series”
Taisetsu “The Great Snowfall” is the ninth release in Akkeshi’s Twenty Four Seki Series; reflecting a time when the days are shortest, the mountains are covered in snow, and animals have begun their winter slumber. This single malt whisky from Hokkaido’s Akkeshi Distillery displays all the beauty of winter citrus while balancing its light aromas with the richness of Darjeeling tea, honey cakes, and umami.
BOTTLE SIZE
700ml
ABV PERCENTAGE
55% ABV
PEATED
yes
style
single malt WHISKY
age statement
nas
avg age if nas
3+ YEARS
barrels used to age
Hokkaido Mizunara Barrels, Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, and Red Wine Barrels
distillery location
akkeshi, hokkaido
limited release
AKKESHI BLENDED WHISKY DAIKAN 48% ABV
Akkeshi’s Daikan blended whisky is the sixth release in their “24 Seki Series” following Ritto and representative of Japan’s coldest season, “The Peak of Winter.” This release is a blend of imported new pot grain whisky that is aged at Akkeshi for a minimum of 3 years in ex-bourbon barrels before combining with a majority of their own mizunara, sherry, and red wine cask aged single malt. The richness of the pot stilled grain whisky and peated, mizunara aged malt mingle to create a sturdy dram fit for the coldest winter days when one can fortify until the snows thaw.
BOTTLE SIZE
700ml
ABV PERCENTAGE
48% ABV
PEATED
LIGHTLY
style
BLENDED WHISKY
STILLS
COPPER POT
AGING
3+ YEARS
cask types
EX-BOURBON, SHERRY RED WINE & HOKKAIDO MIZUNARA
US bottle release
492 bottles
AKKESHI SINGLE MALT WHISKY SEIMEI 55% ABV
Akkeshi’s Single Malt Seimei is the seventh entry in their “24 Seki Series” of whiskies that represent Japan’s 24 seasons. Seimei is the time when winter begins to fade and nature that has been dormant during the coldest months begins to stir. The label is decorated with swallows to represent their return from warmer southern climates during harsh winters. The Seimei utilizes a greater blend of peated and unpeated malt aged in ex-bourbon barrels than previous releases. The sweetness of light smoke delicately dances between lemon cream, sea salt, and honey yielding a beau- tiful lingering finish of bittersweet chocolate. This beautiful new single malt from Akkeshi evokes the beginnings of spring, full of fresh dew covered foliage and rays of sunlight thawing the ground.
BOTTLE SIZE
700ml
ABV PERCENTAGE
55% ABV
PEATED
LIGHTLY
style
SINGLE MALT
STILLS
COPPER POT
AGING
NAS
cask types
EX-BOURBON, SHERRY RED WINE & HOKKAIDO MIZUNARA
US bottle release
492 bottles
AKKESHI BLENDED WHISKY SHOSHO 48% ABV
Shosho “Summer Fades” is representative of the late August days where the heat begins to taper and the evening temperatures cool. Akkeshi is one of, if not the only Japanese distillery to have access to local peat. As a result, the varied surrounding topography (mountains, marshes, coast) where peat is harvested will impart unique characteristics to its whisky. In the case of this fourth edition of Akkeshi’s “24 Seki Series,” the brash iodine flavor that can sometimes accompany peated whisky are nonexistent. Instead, they are replaced by a gentle warming sweetness reminiscent of the smokey whisps left lingering after a long-extinguished campfire.
BOTTLE SIZE
700ml
ABV PERCENTAGE
48% ABV
PEATED
20PPM
style
BLENDED MALT
STILLS
COPPER POT
AGING
4 YEARS
cask types
EX-BOURBON, SHERRY RED WINE & HOKKAIDO MIZUNARA
US bottle release
492 bottles
AKKESHI BLENDED WHISKY TAISHO 48% ABV
The Akkeshi Taisho is the eighth release in their “24 Seki Series” and represents the peak of hot summer months. The indigo blue of the label is a nod to yukata, light summer kimonos worn during warmer months. The signature Akkeshi peated sweetness is ever present to balance the dry temple incense of mizunara casks and bright citrus peel. Taisho evokes dry evenings below colorful festival lights and the distant smell of fireworks carried along the warm summer breeze.
BOTTLE SIZE
700ml
ABV PERCENTAGE
48% ABV
PEATED
N/A
style
BLENDED WHISKY
STILLS
COPPER POT
AGING
NAS
cask types
EX-BOURBON, SHERRY RED WINE & HOKKAIDO MIZUNARA
US bottle release
492 bottles
akkeshi edition 1
TYPE: SINGLE MALT
akkeshi edition 2
TYPE: SINGLE MALT
akkeshi edition 3
TYPE: SINGLE MALT
akkeshi edition 4
TYPE: SINGLE MALT