Akkeshi

At the Hokkaido distillery, the stills are made by Forsyths, with the iconic onion shape and straight head like those used at several distilleries on the island of Islay. The equipment was installed by Forsyths workers who traveled to Japan for the occasion.

Looking out over Akkeshi Bay, the maritime aromas in the air influence the characteristics of these striking and classic newborn whiskies. Not only bourbon and sherry casks are used for maturation, but also hard-to-find Japanese oak barrels.

The source of the clean, pure water for making whiskey comes from the Homakai River, which flows at the foot of Mount Oboro near the distillery. The delicate white flowers, which bloom in summer, are an unmistakable sign of abundant clean water.