Akkeshi

Akkeshi distillery stands in the town of Akkeshi, on the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido. It was set up by Kenten, a Japanese food trading company, and began distilling in 2016. The cool, damp and misty climate by the sea reminded its founders of Islay, and that was the model they had in mind.

Much of the spirit is peated, and the distillery has worked with local Hokkaido peat and oak alongside imported malt and casks. The style tends towards smoke, salt and fruit, though unpeated spirit is made as well.

The main range a buyer meets is the 24 Solar Terms of Japan series, with each release named after a point in the traditional calendar, such as Usui, Shosho, Taisho, Ritto and Daikan. The series mixes single malts with blended whiskies, and some of the blends combine Akkeshi malt with whisky from outside Japan, so check the label. Our catalogue also lists young single casks bottled by the independent bottler Adelphi.