Akkeshi blended whisky Usui Vol.48% Cl.70

The Akkeshi 24 solar Term series continues with bottling 2021.

In Japanese Usui which indicates the solar term in which snowfalls turn into precipitation thanks to the warm climate.

Snow turns into rain and so the 2020 single malt turns into blended malt in 2021.

Akkeshi Usui 2021 limited edition is the second edition of the distillery's "24 Solar term" series.

Each release will explore the effects local climate, wildlife and agriculture have on the final product.

Akkeshi is not going exactly on the calendar order of 24 solar terms, but these versions will be spread over several years.

Akkeshi Blended malt Usui 2021 is the second limited edition of the "24 Solar term" series and was produced in only 15,000 bottles.

Usui (rainwater) was distilled using peated barley and matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, wine, mizunara and sherry wood before blending.

This Japanese peaty whiskey is already a very coveted limited edition by collectors.

Although age is not stated, we believe this is a 3 year aged whiskey to enhance sweetness and aromas.

Akkeshi Distillery began production in October 2016, so four years ago and has quickly become a cult distillery.

The founder is Keiichi Toita of Kenten Jitsugyo.

In the late 1990s, he was stunned when he encountered Ardbeg, a malt from Islay.

"Who knew there was a whiskey like this?" Toita-san, whose previous experience with whiskey was limited to dabbling in Bourbon, was fascinated by Islay malts.

From that moment, holding "The Complete Guide to Single Malt Whiskey" (Shogakukan), he began his journey into the world of single malts.

Given the exclusivity of Akkeshi Usui 2021 peaty blended malt we could not taste it but the Japanese distillery provides us with some tasting ideas.

Akkeshi Usui 2021 is today considered one of the best Japanese peaty whiskeys, if not among the best in the world, so much so that in whiskey auctions, it beats all records for a blended malt.