58°
Distillery : The Akkeshi - Japan
Ex-Bourbon Cask
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2022
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
The Akkeshi distillery was founded in 2016 by Keiichi Toita, manager of
a spirits trading company named Kenten Jitsugyo. It is located on the
island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, a place that has several things in
common with a certain Islay in Scotland. This allows Akkeshi to produce
very limited edition in Single Casks entirely made on the island, with
local barley and peat. But it is not certain that these were the craftng conditions of this particular edition, I don't know either how
many bottles were put on sale, nor how many ppm the peat rate rises, or
even if it is reduced. It is no less a selection from La Maison du
Whisky, sold exclusively in France.
Let's Taste It :
The nose is more and more coastal, oysters, limestone, sandstone,
slate. Salty but light freshness. The peat is present, hazy,
almost ethereal. A pinch of icing sugar, but also some sea foam. On the
palate, it's oily, seaweed, kelp, but also slightly fruity,
vanilla and lychee. The spices are important, but not too strong, they soak up the mouth. nutmeg and cloves. Then comes the finish, long and
beautiful, a bit of charcoal, mainly shortbread. Hazelnut and a
saline touch, like semi-salted butter. Very enjoyable.
In Short,
This Single Cask reveals the very interesting potential of this
distillery. A deeply coastal and saline character, but at the same time very subtle. However, it is still too young, 4 years at best, and
the aging in a Bourbon cask does not enhance complexity. It remains a
beautiful thing, sold at a totally excessive price. I think La Maison du
Whisky is hoping for an explosion in the market like for Chichibu a few
years ago. Why not, but I don't see the first signs yet.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Ilajan - Mad
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