Akkeshi – Ritto 2021 Edition Winter Begins (70cl, 55%)

This is a Japanese single malt from the Akkeshi distillery on Hokkaido, founded in 2016. It is bottled at 55% in a 70cl bottle and belongs to the distillery's 24 Solar Terms series, which follows the traditional Japanese calendar. Ritto marks the start of winter. It is made from peated and unpeated malted barley, some of it grown on Hokkaido, and matured in a mix of Mizunara oak, sherry, bourbon and Burgundy red wine casks. The nose offers brown sugar, orange, cacao and a hint of soy sauce. The palate is silky, with lively citrus, white pepper and a little mesquite smoke. The finish is warming, smoky and spicy.