Akkeshi – Keichitsu 2023 Life Awakens (70cl, 55%)

This is a lightly peated Japanese single malt from the Akkeshi distillery on Hokkaido, bottled at 55% in a 70cl bottle without chill filtration. Keichitsu refers to the start of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar, when life awakens. The barley is a mix of imported and Hokkaido-grown grain, and the distillery water comes from the Homakai river, filtered through peat. Maturation was in Hokkaido Mizunara oak, ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-red wine casks. The nose brings butterscotch, temple incense, matcha and white chocolate. The palate shows mandarin, dark chocolate and sea salt, leading to a long, honeyed finish.