Akashi

Akashi is the whisky brand of Eigashima Shuzo, a long-established sake and shochu maker in the coastal city of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture. The company has held a whisky licence since the early 20th century. Its whisky is made at its White Oak distillery, so you will also see the White Oak name on some labels.

White Oak is a small distillery. For many years whisky was distilled for only part of the year alongside sake brewing. Because of this, the single malts tend to be young, often around five years old, and much of the range is built around the cask used.

The single malt range a buyer will meet includes Akashi 5 Year Old bottlings from bourbon, sherry, red wine and white wine casks, as well as occasional single cask releases. The blends include Red, White Oak Blended, the Sherry Cask Finish blends and Takumi. Ume is a blend finished in casks that held umeshu, the Japanese plum liqueur.

The whisky is distilled, matured and bottled by Eigashima Shuzo itself in Akashi.