White Oak Distillery : Akashi Blended

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Akashi Blended White Oak Distillery

Tasting

Nose

The nose of Akashi Blended opens with notes of cereal, vanilla, and caramel, lifted by white fruit and a very subtle touch of smoke.

Palate

On the palate, this Japanese blend reveals itself as light and smooth, with a rather short to medium structure that carries the aromas perceived on the nose through to the finish.

Pairings and Tasting Moments

Akashi Blended is ideally suited for aperitif enjoyment. Its lightness and easy-drinking style also make it a versatile companion for pairing with Japanese or Western cuisine.

Mixology

This whiskey lends itself particularly well to highball-style mixology, a preparation that highlights its lightness and refreshing character.

Other Characteristics

Akashi Blended is a blend of malt and grain whiskies, in a style close to Scotch blends, bottled at 40% ABV with no age statement. Its touch of smoke remains very discreet, far from the heavily peated profiles found elsewhere in Japanese whisky.

Akashi Blended, a Light and Approachable Japanese Whisky from White Oak Distillery in Akashi (Hyogo)

White Oak Distillery, a History Rooted in Akashi

White Oak Distillery belongs to Eigashima Shuzo Co., Ltd., a house founded in 1888 in Akashi, a coastal city in Hyogo Prefecture, on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea. Originally a sake brewery, the company diversified into shochu, wine, and umeshu before obtaining, in 1919, one of Japan's oldest whiskey licenses. Malt whiskey production, however, only became established starting in the 1960s, before the distillery was rebuilt in 1984 with larger pot stills. Today, Eigashima Shuzo Co., Ltd. remains the owner of the house, represented by Akito Ueda. At this same site, sake, shochu, wine, and Japanese Blended Whisky coexist, perpetuating a small-scale artisanal tradition unique to White Oak Distillery.

Akashi Blended, an Approachable Japanese Blended Whisky

Akashi Blended Whiskey is a blend of malt and grain whiskies, crafted in the tradition of Scotch-style Blended Whisky. Bottled at 40% ABV, with no age statement on the label, it represents the most accessible expression of the Akashi range produced by White Oak Distillery. This blend stands out for its light and smooth character, designed for simple and convivial drinking, whether enjoyed as an aperitif or in mixology.

The bottle, available in a 50 cl format, is notably recognized by its red-bordered label, which has earned it the nickname "Akashi Red" among some enthusiasts. This simple visual identity reflects the product's philosophy: to offer an affordable, no-frills Japanese whiskey that showcases Eigashima Shuzo's expertise in the art of blending.

Akashi Blended is part of a broader range of blends offered by the house, alongside other expressions such as Akashi Meisei and Akashi Meisei Deluxe, as well as single malts aged 5 years. This diversity reflects White Oak Distillery's commitment to offering multiple faces of Japanese whiskey, from the simplest to the most elaborate, all while maintaining an artisanal production identity built on decades of experience in fermentation and distillation in Akashi.