Akkeshi – Shōsho Single Malt (70cl, 55%)

Akkeshi Shōsho is a Japanese single malt from the Akkeshi distillery in Hokkaido, in a 70cl bottle at 55% ABV. It is the 11th release in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series, named after the Minor Heat of summer, which falls around 7th July. The key malt is Hokkaido malt, distilled at Akkeshi and matured in Hokkaido Mizunara oak casks. The Mizunara influence is described as restrained. The whisky keeps Akkeshi's peat character, with fruit and salt more prominent than in the other releases of the series. On the nose it is described as banana juice, grapefruit, bacon and egg galette, and prosciutto with melon.