About Akashi White Oak Blended Whisky
Whisky production at Eigashima Distillery takes place only two months out each year, with the rest of the time being devoted to sake and shochu production. This, combined with the fact that less than five employees handle all of Eigashima’s whisky production, makes the distillery’s signature Akashi White Oak Japanese Whisky some of the rarest in Japan, not to mention elsewhere around the world.
Akashi White Oak Japanese Whisky is crafted using specially-imported barley from Scotland, as well as pure water that comes from the same underground source Eigashima Distillery uses to make its sake. Once the barley is milled, mashed and distilled through Eigashima’s traditional pot stills, it is set to age in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks in the distillery’s newly-built warehouses.
Due to Akashi City’s unique climate, with extremely hot summers and cool winters, as much as 7%-8% of Eigashima’s maturing whisky may be lost to evaporation each year, as opposed to the 2% commonly seen in Scotland. While this lowers still the overall production yield, it also acts as a catalyst for the maturation process, as the temperature swings encourage interaction between the whisky and the wood.
As a result, Akashi White Oak Japanese Whisky has a malty, citrusy aroma with scents of black cherry, toffee and oak. Notes of vanilla and pine nuts dominate the palate, and lead to a long, malty finish.
Pick up a bottle today!
About Akashi
In the town of Akashi not far away from Kobe lies Japan's only distillery situated close to the sea. Eigashima Shuzo was established in 1679 and it is one of the oldest family-owned distilleries in Japan. Eigashima was making sake and shochu as early as 1888 and in 1919, it was the first Japanese distillery to obtain a whisky license. Even though Eigashima was a pioneer in its field in Japan, it remained a small distillery with only 7 full-time employees working there today.
In the pristine nature of Kobe Bay, they're proud of their clean air and water and they value quality over quantity. Their 9th generation leader Mr. Hiraishi leads the company with a simple motto — honesty. Due to the proximity to the sea, their whisky is influenced by the salty air and extreme temperature differences between seasons.
About Japanese Whisky
Although maybe not be the first Spirit you would think of when Japan is mentioned; the Japanese make one of the best types of whisky in the world. It’s heavily influenced by scotch but with smoother and delicate notes.
The history of the Japanese whisky is not even a century old, but in this short time, the Japanese blended and single malts have taken over the world by storm and can easily go against their whisk(e)y counterparts from across the globe.
Check out our impressive selection of Japanese whiskies, find your new favorite in the best Japanese whiskies bottles under $200, or explore our treasury of rare & hard to find Japanese whiskies.
