The Akkeshi 2018 Single Cask Selected by La Maison du Whisky

 

 

 

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

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 :

 

                                           Emily Zoé - Save The World

The Akkeshi Whisky Taisho

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Akkeshi - Japan

Ex-Bourbon, Sherry, Red Wine Mizunara Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Lightly Peated

The Akkeshi distillery is located on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. It started distilling in October 2016 through the impetus of its creator Keiichi Toita, manager of a trading company named Kenten Jitsugyo. This new Blended Whisky, released in August 2022, is the 8th part of a wide range of 24 bottles, "24 Solar Termes Series", which is inspired by the 24 solar seasons in Japanese tradition. The season referred by this bottling is the hottest time of the year, between late July and early August, "The Peak of Summer" being the subtitle of the bottle. 10,000 copies were produced, and flooded the world. The maturation has been partly done in Mizunara oak casks, or Quercus Crispula, very rare and expensive. The peat comes from the site of the distillery itself, its influence is slight, around 10 ppm or so, in my humble opinion. The age of the beast must be around 4 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lemony pulp, but light, a peaty shade, nice balance, I bite a grapefruit, then comes the grain influence, crushed corn, nice sweet roundness, like a drop of molasses, liquid caramel, honey and nuts. Minerality in the background, sandstone or slate. On the palate, beautiful syrupy consistency, citrus fruits return, well managed spices, fondant with lemon, blood orange and icing sugar, chalky hints. Successful, long and pastry finish, gingerbread, white grapes, puffed rice. A drop of lemon.

 

In Short, 

Despite its young age, it's impressively mature. It's pleasant and subtle, but the lemon dominates, with a sweet saline minerality. Overall, I found it successful, even exceptional for a simple Blend, but the price, on the other hand, is crazy. Crafting costs in Japan are much higher than in Scotland, and do not allow this product to be competitive, unfortunately.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Nickel Creek - Strangers