Renowned distillery creates whiskey only for Hokkaido town

Tokyo, 25 November, /AJMEDIA/

AKKESHI, Hokkaido–A distillery has produced a whiskey that is available only in this town as a “thank you” for the community’s support and its bountiful nature.

Akkeshi Distillery, operated by Tokyo-based food material importer Kenten Co., has won plaudits at home and abroad for its whiskies, and the hot-selling products are often difficult to obtain.

Its Kaki no Komoriuta (Oyster’s lullaby) may be even tougher to come by, particularly for out-of-towners.

Named after Akkeshi’s local specialty, oysters, the beverage is a blend of malt whiskies from Akkeshi and the Scottish island of Islay. It has an alcohol content of 45 percent.

Located in the eastern part of Japan’s northernmost prefecture and facing the Pacific Ocean, Akkeshi is known for its cool and humid summers as well as sea fog.

The distillery uses water filtered through a peat layer to produce whiskey.

Kenten President Keiichi Toita decided to make malt whiskey in Akkeshi because the town’s environment is similar to that of Islay, one of the world’s largest production areas for Scotch.

The company entered the whiskey-production business in autumn 2016 and began selling its Akkeshi New Born series in 2018.

In 2020, it started selling whiskey aged for at least three years.

According to the company and the town office, all 10,000 bottles of Boshu whiskey the distillery released in May were quickly bought up around Japan.

It was also sold in limited quantities in Akkeshi, where customers formed lines outside shops in the early hours of the release date.

Kaki no Komoriuta was created to show gratitude to the things that made it possible for the distillery to produce whiskey: the town’s nature-rich environment and local fans.

The spirit has been sold in glasses at hotels, restaurants and elsewhere in the town since Nov. 1.

In addition to straight and on-the-rocks servings, the distillery recommends enjoying the whiskey in highballs.

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