Collection: Akkeshi

The Akkeshi Distillery is a fascinating project by the Tokyo-based import-export company Kenten Co. Ltd. , marking a new era for Japanese whisky. Located in a picturesque fishing village on the east coast of Hokkaido , it is not the northernmost, but the easternmost distillery in Japan . Kenten's CEO, Keiichi Toita, founded the distillery in 2016 out of a deep passion for the smoky malts of the Scottish island of Islay.

The climate in Akkeshi is characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations , ranging from -20°C in winter to a maximum of 25°C in summer. These massive differences create a unique maturation environment that gives the whiskies their distinctive character. The surrounding area itself, with its hills and marshes, is strongly reminiscent of the Scottish landscape. As the distillery is located only about two kilometers from the sea, the air is filled with sea salt and sea breezes – aromas that are reflected in the casks maturing there.

Akkeshi's distilling style is deliberately focused on heavily peated malts , which is an interesting contrast to many other Japanese distilleries that mostly use unpeated whisky as a base. Equipped with pot stills from Forsyths in Scotland , Akkeshi relies on traditional methods such as clear wort and very long fermentation times of up to four days.

A special symbol of the distillery is the red-crowned crane (Tancho) , which is immortalized in the Akkeshi logo. This bird is native to the region and represents loyalty, good fortune, and longevity in Japan – values ​​that are also embodied in the meticulous production of every drop of Akkeshi whisky.

Connoisseur's tip: Akkeshi is famous for its oysters . The distillery's smoky, salty whisky is the perfect accompaniment to this local delicacy.