After six years in the making, the Akkeshi Distillery’s “Twenty-Four Solar Terms Series” has reached its culmination. Now, as a new series that carries on that legacy, the “Chinese Zodiac Series” makes its debut. Released once a year, each edition bears the Chinese Zodiac of that year. This marks a new chapter for the Akkeshi Distillery.
Many of you likely learned folk tales about the Chinese Chinese Zodiac when you were children. Each of the Chinese Chinese Zodiac has its own unique meaning and symbolism.
Furthermore, in Japan since ancient times, the Chinese Chinese Zodiac has had a long history deeply intertwined with people’s daily lives and culture—it has been used not only as a way to count the years but also to denote times of day and directions.
For this series, it appears the label designs will combine the Chinese Chinese Zodiac signs with the works of Katsushika Hokusai.
The Akkeshi Distillery has previously released whiskys featuring motifs from Katsushika Hokusai’s works.In the past, they have released a limited-edition whisky featuring a crane from *”Denshin kaishu” A Single-Stroke Drawing Book”* and *HOKUSAI NORTH COLORS*, inspired by *Fugaku Sanjurokkei Kanagawa Okinamiura*.
This time, the design features a sheep depicted on page 27 of *Denshin kaishu Hokusai gakyo*.
The original artwork can be viewed in the National Diet Library Digital Collection.
1. Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Chinese Zodiac Series “Hitsuji (Sheep)”
Starting with this release, the packaging has been changed to a cylindrical box, and a special bookmark featuring the Chinese Chinese Zodiac animal is included.
The Chinese Chinese Zodiac Series is released once a year, meaning it takes twice as long to complete as the Twenty-Four Solar Terms series.
The flavor profile is that of a relatively peaty single malt, characterized by a somewhat nostalgic taste derived from Hokkaido malt. It is described as having a sweet finish primarily from sherry casks.
| Product Name | Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky HITSUJI (Sheep) |
| Product Category | whisky |
| Ingredients | Malt (Barley from the UK and Hokkaido) |
| Net Content | 700 ml |
| Alcohol Content | 52% |
| Suggested Retail Price | 36,300 yen (tax included) |
2. Future Akkeshi Products
Akkeshi Distillery has announced that it will release five products per year going forward.
In addition, the following products are scheduled for release:
・Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky “Chinese Zodiac Series” (released every November, 36,300 yen)
・Akkeshi Blended Whisky (released every February, 16,500 yen)
・Akkeshi Single Grain/Single Blended Japanese whisky (released every May, 23,100 yen)
・Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky (released every June and August, 23,100 yen)
・Flagship product “Akkeshi Sarorun Kamui” (Released every September, 38,500 yen)
We will continue to expand our lineup, including the release of single-grain whiskies inspired by the summer and winter solstices, as well as the long-awaited re-release of “Sarorun Kamui,” Akkeshi’s flagship product and a true staple of the brand.
3. About the Akkeshi Distillery
Akkeshi Distillery
| Location | 4-109-2 Miyazono, Akkeshi-cho, Akkeshi-gun, Hokkaido 088-1124 |
| Start of Operations | October 2016 |
2015 Construction of the distillery began
October 2016 Distillation began
2017 Second aging warehouse completed
February 2018 First product released under the Akkeshi Distillery brand. Third aging warehouse completed
February 2020 Released the first single malt whisky, “ Sarorun Kamui.”
April Completion of the fourth aging warehouse.
October Release of “Single Malt Kanro,” the first installment in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms series.
2021 New malting building constructed (operational in 2022)
April 2023 The fifth aging warehouse was completed.
2025 Construction of the “Furano Distillery,” Kenten Jitsugyo’s second distillery, was announced . Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2028.
2026 Akkeshi Distilled, Furano Aged whisky launched
The 24-part “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” series was completed after six years.
A new series, the “Twelve Chinese Zodiac Series,” goes on sale starting in late November.
However, “making it properly” is actually the most challenging part; for the spirit to become Japanese whisky, it must be aged in wooden barrels for at least three years.
That’s more than 150 weeks. One week accounts for less than 1% of that time. We ensure consistency week after week, allowing absolutely no compromise in the production process. We strictly manage all procedure manuals and records to craft our whisky with unwavering precision.
Driven by a strong desire to “produce a whisky like Islay malt using traditional Scottish methods,” we installed equipment manufactured by Forsyth of Scotland. All installation work was carried out by Forsyth craftsmen who traveled to Japan specifically for this project.
The pot stills feature a straight-head onion shape, similar to those found at several distilleries on the Isle of Islay. Heating is via a radiator system (indirect heating); the attached condenser is a shell-and-tube type; and the mash tun is a semi-Leuter style.
All fermentation tanks (washbacks) are made of stainless steel. While leaving much to the whims of the climate and nature, which vary from year to year, the craftsmen make adjustments and carefully determine the optimal timing for fermentation.
There are currently five aging warehouses, numbered 1 through 5. Warehouse 1 uses the dunnage system, while Warehouse 2 (located next to the bottling building) is currently used to store products prior to shipment.Aging Warehouses 3 through 5 utilize a rack-style system. Located on a hill overlooking Akkeshi Bay, they are enveloped by “sea fog” that drifts in from the ocean, infusing the unblended spirit with the flavor of the sea breeze. This is a characteristic that can truly be called “terroir.”
In addition to bourbon and sherry casks, the distillery uses “Mizunara” oak from Hokkaido. Furthermore, casks previously used for wine, rum, and brandy are employed to build multi-layered complexity before blending.
Furthermore, the barley used as the raw material for the whisky is grown right in Akkeshi, and everything—including the peat and the wooden barrels for aging—is sourced locally. The distillery aims to produce an “Akkeshi All-Star” whisky in the future.
In August 2021, an initiative was launched to experimentally age base spirits distilled at the Akkeshi Distillery in Furano.
The resulting whisky lacks the salty flavor characteristic of Akkeshi-aged whisky and instead features a floral profile unique to the Furano region. This approach capitalizes not only on the local character of Akkeshi but also on the distinctive character of “Hokkaido” as a whole.
Lake Akkeshi and the Bekanbeushi Wetlands surrounding Akkeshi Town are wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention.The Ramsar Convention is a treaty concerning wetlands adopted on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. Its purpose is to conserve and wisely use wetlands—which serve as habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife—through international cooperation.
The water intake for the whisky production comes from the Homakai River, a tributary of the Oboro River that flows near the distillery. Having passed through layers of peat, the water takes on a brownish-red hue.
The surrounding area is a marshland and serves as a habitat for the water milfoil, a plant said to thrive only in clear streams. Its small white flowers, which bloom in summer, symbolize the abundance of water. This water nurtures Akkeshi’s whisky.
Source: Akkeshi Distillery Official Website
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Please also see the information on the Akkeshi Distillery below ↓.
https://en.jpwhisky.net/manufacturer/akkeshi_en/
