Akkeshi Taisetsu Single Malt Japanese Whisky 55% 700mL

Akkeshi began distilling in 2016, based in the Akkeshi District of Hokkaido, the concept of distilling and maturing single malt in Japan’s northern wilderness traces back to the very first plans of Masataka Taketsuru, a pioneer of the country’s early whisky production.

The Japanese call the 21st of their 24 solar terms ‘Heavy Snow’, a time that captures the winter solstice and when bears retreat into hibernation—the inspiration for the label. This is one of the distillery’s lightest peated recent iterations, an exceptionally round and chocolaty dram. Collectors will see this as another indication that Akkeshi’s scientific approach to blending leaves no stone unturned and provides an exciting point of difference to the previous bottlings.

On the nose, Akkeshi’s trademark peat notes sit behind complex sweet aromas of toffee, orange rind, cocoa butter and malted milk, with nuances of flax and lanolin. On the palate, it’s big and round, with explosive flavour. Pineapple and dried mango fruit flavours rise before chocolate and a waxing fresh tide of tarragon, mint and white pepper.