The Akkeshi Peated Seimei

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Akkeshi - Japan

Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Red Wine and Local Mizunara Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Lightly Peated

 

 

 

The Akkeshi distillery, founded in 2016 in the North of Hokkaido in Japan, has been launching a wide range of 24 bottlings since the end of 2020, entitled "24 Solar Systems", in tribute to the 24 solar seasons that punctuate the year according to the Japanese tradition. Here is the 7th edition, Seimi, subtitled "Radiance of Pure Life", it illustrates the beginning of Spring during the first half of April. It is a three-year-old Single Malt, aged 70% in Bourbon casks, 20% in Sherry, the rest in red wine casks and in Quercus Crispula oak casks, also named Mizunaraa, very rare and typically Japanese. The barley was grown locally, the water used is also drawn near the distillery, from the Homakai River, and filtered through layers of peat. In addition, 7 types of barrels were used, some of which were peated, and the others not. The result gives a subtle and light peat around 10 ppm. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is a bit austere, coastal, mineral, limestone, sandstone, slate. A certain depth. The peat is discreet, tapered, grainy. Pencil lead, seafood, oysters, but also mussels and whelks. Sweet salinity. On the palate, it remains maritime, iodized, with some harbour hints, small fishing port, quicksilver fish, eels, razor clams. Little disturbing spices, it's a bit milky, then the finish comes, quite strong, rock bathed in seawater, seaweed and kelp. Very long. 

 

In Short, 

Subtle and full of nuances, of great maturity in relation to the age. I enjoyed the coastal profile. However the nose seemed to me very austere and difficult to penetrate. Fortunately, the monstrous finale made up for it. It remains a very good Single Malt, at an absolutely excessive price, to be reserved for collectors eager for curiosities.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

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