Slainte-Mhath
White Oak Akashi Single Malt
Single Malt — Japan
Reviewed
March 31, 2019 (edited March 5, 2024)
In times where fake Japanese whisky is flooding the market, it is refreshing to have malts like Akashi. Originally a sake producer, Eigashima built White Oak Distillery in 1984. The nose of this single malt is very Japanese: polite, elegant and restrained. Yeast dough, maple syrup and shortbread mix with anise, lime and hints of baked apple. Honey-sweet and full-bodied in the arrival, the taste develops gingery and oaky with matcha green tea, juniper and sour berries. Licorice, fresh herbs and fading tannins mark the substantial finish. What a pleasant surprise!
RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE
70.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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@PBMichiganWolverine Well, it is a blend, so it contains both malt and grain whisky. https://distiller.com/spirits/kirin-fuji-sanroku-50-proof/
@Slainte-Mhath and that’s malt, not grain? I need to look it up...thanks!
@PBMichiganWolverine If you are interested in some authentic Japanese whisky off the beaten track, look out for 'Fuji Sanroku 50°'. It's a non-chill filtered blend, bottled at 50% ABV, from Kirin's Fuji-Gotemba Distillery. A bit like Hibiki on steroids, and I got my bottles for less than 45 € each! Kirin just announced they will be discontinued, so they will disappear from the market quickly.
@Slainte-Mhath it is—I’ve just never bothered to pick it up, thinking it’s “fake” Japanese
@PBMichiganWolverine Is this Japanese whisky available on the American market?
@Slainte-Mhath I was a bit surprised at the score too. I thought one gets an 80 for just showing up.
@Slainte-Mhath that’s good to know—i need to try this one.
@PBMichiganWolverine Yes, Akashi is 100% Japanese. I will visit the distillery in July. It's located west of Osaka in the town of Akashi. Licensed in 1919, they are technically older than Yamazaki. However, they are rather unknown outside of Japan.
@Slainte-Mhath any idea if this is actually Japanese? I’ve not bought any affordable Japanese lately because it’s so hard to tell if it’s really Japanese or a blend of American or Scottish
@SolanaRoots I do indeed disagree with Anne-Sophie Bigot's assessment that 'the obvious lack of depth and subtlety makes the whisky overall a disappointment'. IMO, the craft presentation, which I mentioned in my previous comment, gives this malt a substance that is rarely seen in Japanese malts. It comes at a price, but it has both quality and personality.
@Slainte-Mhath Nice review. Surprised at the Distiller score of 70 after reading your take
Additional comment: It's probably fair to mention that this is malt is rather expensive. However, it is craftly presented with 46% ABV, no added colorant and no chill-filtration, a combination that is not seen that often for Japanese whiskies.