Akkeshi – Taisetsu 2022 Heavily Peated (55%)

Akkeshi Taisetsu 2022 is a heavily peated single malt from the Akkeshi distillery on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, bottled at 55%. It belongs to the 24 Solar Term Series, which follows the old Asian calendar. Taisetsu means 'great snowfall' and marks the time when plains and mountains alike lie under snow. The distillery stands a few metres from the Pacific, surrounded by marshland that supplies local peat and clear water, and it began work with two pot stills from Forsyths. The notes describe orange and mandarin with herbs and peat, and a nose of juicy mixed fruit, soft floral tones and spice, leading to a medium-length, crisp finish.