Spirits · Akkeshi, Hokkaido
Hokkaido Akkeshi Distillery
Smoky Hokkaido whisky inspired by the malts of Islay.
- Founded
- 2016
- Founded by
- Kenten Jitsugyo
- Based in
- Akkeshi, Hokkaido
Making it since
2016
Their story
Akkeshi Distillery stands in the coastal town of Akkeshi in eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northern island. Its cool, foggy, marshy setting reminded its founders of Islay in Scotland, home of famously smoky whiskies.
The distillery was built by Kenten Jitsugyo, a Tokyo trading company, and started distilling in October 2016. It released its first single malt in 2020 and has worked toward a whisky made entirely from Hokkaido ingredients.
How it's made
Akkeshi distills in copper pot stills made by Forsyths of Scotland. The team uses some Hokkaido-grown barley, peat cut near the distillery and casks made from local mizunara oak. Releases range from peated single malts to blends.
Why we carry them
We like Akkeshi for anyone who loves Islay whisky and wants to taste a Japanese take on it. The peated single malts are where to start.
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