The second joint bottling by Liquors Hasegawa, BAR Mizunara Cask, Mejiro Tanakaya, and RUDDER is now available. The lottery will be open until December 1!
This is the second joint bottling by the four companies, which was previously sold under the name ” Akkeshi Vatted Malt Whisky: Deer Path “.
As in the poem “Hanaguwashi (Cherry blossoms),” written in the Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan), cherry blossoms have long been recognized as beautiful in Japan, and the phrase “hanaguwashi (flowery beauty)” is mentioned in the Manyoshu (Anthology of Myriad Leaves).
Haguwashi” is used as a pillow word for cherry blossoms and reeds, and the use of “Kalimpani”, the Ainu word for the Ezo mountain cherry, shows respect for the good old traditions and culture of Hokkaido.
1. Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Hanaguwashi Kalimpani
Hanaguwashi”, which is also the name of the bottle, is an idiom meaning “beautiful flowers”, and is found in literature such as the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) and Manyoshu (Anthology of Myriad Leaves) as a pillow word for “cherry blossom” and “reed”.
Kalimpani” is an Ainu word meaning “Ezo mountain cherry,” and the label design is decorated with these elements.
This bottle is a single malt whisky specially produced by the Akkeshi Distillery using their own recipe, and is the second limited edition product following the blended malt “Deer Path”.
It is the second limited edition product following the blended malt “Deer Trail.” The main ingredient is sherry cask-aged Whisky, which is a special composition rarely seen in regular releases. The unique flavor is achieved by blending the sake matured in oak and cherry wood barrels, which have been processed into mirror-plates.
This is a special bottle to be savored under the “beautifully blooming night cherry blossoms of Akkeshi.
Tasting comment
Aroma: Sakura mochi (rice cake with sakura blossoms), shiratama zenzai (sweetened white bean jelly), old vanilla ice cream, grilled apple.
Taste: citrus custard pie, lemon candy.
Finish: myoga, ginger, fresh butter, slight saltiness.
Reference: Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Hanaguwashi Kalimpani on Sale | Press Release by RUDDER Co.
2. Product Specifications
| Product name | Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Hanaguwashi Kalimpani |
| Sake type | Single malt |
| Cask Sake | Mainly sherry casks, with Mizunara and cherry wood used for mirror boards |
| Number of bottles | Bottles |
| Alcohol content | 55% alcohol by volume |
| Suggested Retail Price | 19,800 yen (tax included) |
3. lottery purchase method
The bottle will be sold at the four joint stores, but it is likely to be sold out immediately at the stores.
4. Manufacturer
Kenken Jitsugyo Co.
| Established | 1982 |
| Head office | Imperial Hotel Tokyo, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Japan |
| Owned distillery | Akkeshi distillery |
5. distillery
Akkeshi Distillery
| Location | 109-2, Miyazono 4-chome, Akkeshi-cho, Akkeshi-gun, Hokkaido 088-1124, Japan |
| Start of operation | October 2016 |
2015: Started construction of the distillery
2016: Started distilling in October
2017 Second aging room completed
2018 February: First product release as Akkeshi distillery. The 3rd maturation warehouse was completed.
2020 FebruaryFirst single malt whisky ” Saron Kamui ” is released.
AprilCompletion of the 4th maturation warehouse.
October: Released the firstsingle malt whisky in the 24 Season series, “Single Malt Cold Dew “.
2021 New milling building is constructed (operation starts in 2022).
April 2023: Completion of the No. 5 Mature House.
The concept of the new facility is “to produce a whisky that inherits the traditional Scottish process, but with a flavor unique to Akkeshi.
Deep fog with tidal air, clear air, and abundant peat. We believe that the climate of Akkeshi in Hokkaido will create the unknown flavor of Japanese Whisky that we are looking for, and started distillation in 2016.
We will continue to hone our skills here in order to make the most of the “terroir” of Hokkaido and the land of Akkeshi in our Whisky production, and at the same time, we will continue to work more deeply with the people and nature of the land. Barley and Quercus crispula grown in the land of Hokkaido, the beautiful water of Akkeshi, and peat containing abundant minerals. Our wish is to make everything from Hokkaido and deliver to the world a Japanese Whisky that cannot be found anywhere else.
Quote: Blender’s Attention Blender’s Attention [Akkeshi Distillery
With a strong desire to “make whisky like Islay malt using the traditional Scottish process,” the facilities are made by Forsyth in Scotland. All construction was carried out by Forsyth craftsmen visiting Japan. The pot stills are straight-headed and onion-shaped, similar to those at some distilleries on Islay. Heating is by radiator system (indirect heating), and the attached condenser is of shell-and-tube type and the mash tun is of semi-reuter type.
The fermentation tanks (washback) are all made of stainless steel, and the temperature is purposely not adjustable. The craftsman determines the timing of fermentation while letting nature take its course.
The aging cellars currently range from the first to the fifth cellar. The first is a dunnage type, and the second (next to the filling building) is currently used to store products prior to shipment. The third to fifth maturing warehouses are rack type, and are located on a hilltop overlooking Akkeshi Bay, where “sea fog” with the scent of the sea envelops the entire town of Akkeshi and deepens the maturation of the malt, which is expected to have a positive effect on the characteristics of the Whisky.
In addition to bourbon and sherry, hard-to-find ” Mizunara” oak is used as a maturing cask. Furthermore, we are challenging every possibility, such as matching with wine and rum casks.
In addition, barley, the raw material for Whisky, is grown in Akkeshi, and everything, including peat and wooden casks for maturation, is produced in Akkeshi. As a new initiative, in August 2021, the distillery began experimentally maturing the distilled spirit at the Akkeshi distillery in Furano. What kind of changes will be brought about by the sake matured in Furano? This is exactly what terroir is all about, taking advantage of not only the locality of Akkeshi, but also the great individuality of “Hokkaido. The idea of “terroir”, which wine connoisseurs have probably heard a lot about, is incorporated into Whisky, and the fusion of “the individuality of Akkeshi” and “the individuality of Hokkaido” and the Whisky production utilizing the terroir of these lands is fascinating and the expectations are infinite.
Lake Akkeshi andBessanbekyu Marsh in the vicinity of Akkeshi Town are registered wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, aims to conserve and make wise use of wetlands as habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife under international cooperation.
Our company aims to be a distillery that protects and coexists with this rich natural environment.
The tap water used for Whisky is taken from the Homakai River upstream of the Ohoro River, which runs near the distillery. The surrounding area is a marshland and a habitat for baikamo ducks, which are said to live only in clear water. The small white flowers that bloom in summer are a symbol of the abundant water. This water nurtures the Whisky of Akkeshi.
Reference: Akkeshi Distillery official website
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For more information about Akkeshi Distillery, please visit here.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
