Akkeshi Blended Whisky Kokuu Review

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Bottle Basics

Name: 厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー穀雨 | The Akkeshi Blended Whisky – Kokuu
Distillery: 厚岸蒸留所 | Akkeshi Distillery
Proof: N/A
ABV: 48%
Mash Bill: Malted barley and grain. Exact mash bill is undisclosed.
Age: NAS
Size: 700ml
MSRP: ￥16,500 JPY | $ 107 USD (per the exchange rate as of July 2024)

Japanese Whisky: No

Note – In February 2021, the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association announced new standards for what could be defined as “Japanese Whisky”. See below for details.

Japanese Whisky Labeling Standards (ENG)

Japanese Whisky Labeling Standards (JPN)

Official Website source →

Previous Releases

当社の譲れないこだわりは、スコットランドの伝統的製法で造ること。そこに、北海道・厚岸町の熟成環境や造り手の想いを反映し、厚岸蒸溜所らしいウイスキーを造りたいと思っています。

Our uncompromising commitment is to brew our whiskey using traditional Scottish methods. We also want to create a whiskey that is unique to Akkeshi Distillery, reflecting the aging environment of Akkeshi Town in Hokkaido and the passion of our brewers.
Official Website →

厚岸シングルモルトウイスキー寒露

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー雨水

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー芒種

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー処暑

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー立冬

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー大寒

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー清明

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー大暑

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー大雪

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー啓蟄

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー小満

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー白露

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー小雪

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー立春

厚岸ブレンデッドウイスキー穀雨

厚岸シングルモルトジャパニーズウイスキー小暑

Additional Details

Distiller Notes:

厚岸町の普賢象が淡く清楚な薄桃色の花を纏い始める、穀雨の頃。
今回の厚岸「穀雨」も伝統のクラシックブレンド。
厚岸蒸溜のモルトウイスキーを全体の半分以上、贅沢に配合し、
深い味わいと飲みごたえを追求しました。

Around the time of Grain Rain (Kokuu), the Fugenzo cherry blossoms in Akkeshi town begin to don their delicate and pure pale pink flowers. This time, Akkeshi “Kokuu” also features a traditional classic blend. More than half of the blend is lavishly composed of malt whisky from the Akkeshi distillery, pursuing a deep flavor and satisfying drinking experience.
Official Website

香り

Aroma

剥きたての甘夏、カリントウ、フルーツパフェ調の甘い香り

Freshly peeled Amanatsu oranges, karintou (sweet fried dough), and the sweet scent of a fruit parfait.

味わい

Palate

ハチミツを垂らしたホットケーキ、コーヒー

Pancakes drizzled with honey, followed by coffee notes.

余韻

Finish

アニス、ナッツ、入れたてのオレンジティ

Anise, nuts, and freshly brewed orange tea.

Introduction

What if your first experience with a whisky lottery turned out to be more thrilling than you ever imagined? A seemingly random opportunity led me on a small adventure that ended with me clutching a rare bottle of whisky. Let me take you through the highs, lows, and unexpected twists of my first whisky lottery.

A little bird told me…

My journey began with a random Twitter post about an upcoming whisky lottery at Ario Sapporo. The lineup was impressive, featuring bottles from premium brands like Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, Yoichi, and Akkeshi. With only 220 tickets available, I calculated my odds and set my sights on winning one of the rare bottles, those being Akkeshi or Yamazaki 12. Despite never having participated in a whisky lottery before, I decided to give it a shot.

I approached the experience with a win-win mindset. Winning a bottle would be fantastic, but even if I didn’t, I’d walk away with a unique story for my blog. The idea of participating in something new and exciting was enough to keep my expectations in check.

The Next Day

On the day of the lottery, I woke up amped and decided to bike to Ario Sapporo, despite the drizzly weather. The journey itself was an adventure, taking me through unfamiliar parts of Sapporo. As I approached the location, I was greeted by a ridiculously long line, which momentarily made me consider turning back. However, I reminded myself of my purpose and joined the queue.

Arriving at 9:15 am, 25 minutes before tickets were to be handed out, I quickly realized that the crowd shared my enthusiasm. The line snaked around the building, filled with people eager for a chance to win. My excitement grew as I waited, no longer at the end of the line but surrounded by fellow whisky enthusiasts.

The Drawing

When the tickets were finally distributed, I received number 78. However, due to a mix-up in the line, really I should have been number 77. This seemingly small detail would soon take on greater significance. Once inside, the anticipation built as we waited for the drawing to begin.

The first ticket number called was 77 — wow, really… That should have been my number! The lucky winner of course took the first Yamazaki 12, one of the bottles I too was also gunning for. As the drawing continued, I anxiously watched more bottles disappear…

The Yamazaki 12 bottles were the first to get cleared out.

More and more bottles were disappearing off the table.

With each person walking up, I kept thinking don’t get the Akkeshi, don’t get the Akkeshi, no don’t you get that!

Soon Hibiki was gone.

Yamazaki NAS started dwindling out.

Then one Akkeshi gone.

And then the next.

… and finally there was 1 left.

The tension was palpable as more numbers were announced, but not mine. Just as I was about to lose hope, the announcer called…

“Number 78!”

Wait, what?! Did i just get drawn?? YEAHHH buddy!

I could not believe it. I won just in time to walk up and snag that last bottle of Akkeshi. It was a thrilling moment, knowing that I had won one of the most sought-after and rare bottles in the lottery.

Oh, what a day.

Epilogue

On my bike ride back to into the city, since it was a work day after all, I entered the bicycle garage I always go to. Interestingly, all the bottom rack spots were filled except for spot number…

… you guessed it — 78.

Appearance

Light gold/brown in color.

Nose

📝 NOTES TL;DR (Nose) — Rich sweetness. Mousse, chocolate. Coffee. Karinto (i.e. deep-fried brown sugar)

It might be easier to tell you what this isn’t first. This isn’t a fruity sweetness. Rather, what I get are dark, rich, mousse-like chocolate notes. Coffee. Oak. I can see how this would be akin to karinto. But for the reader out there who might not know what that is or have had it:

Karintō (花林糖, karintō, (ateji)) is a traditional Japanese snack food. Sweet and deep-fried, it is made primarily of flour, yeast, and brown sugar.
– Wikipedia

Palate

📝 NOTES TL;DR (Palate) — Charred, brulee-like sweetness. Leather. Oak. Sweet Sandalwood. Sea salt. Rich mouthfeel texture. Deep fried brown sugar.

Lush dessert with very charred, brulee-like sweetness. Leather. Oak. Sweet sandalwood. A little bit of sea salt. The mouthfeel texture is equally rich and hefty, with little to no alcohol bite. Deep fried brown sugar. Basically, karinto as it’s been said.

Finish

📝 NOTES TL;DR (Finish) — Medium. Woody/oaky.

The finish is medium in length, yet very satisfying. It has me intrigued, and wanting to go in for another sip because there’s so much to dissect here. I noticed that if I inhaled deeply, or took an intentional deep breath, during the finish, I could actually pick up the same woody/oaky notes I could smell from the cork. Light peppery, oak, and some smoke as well.

Conclusion

Akkeshi Kokuu ranks as one of the most unique whiskies I’ve tried to date. Considering that this the first Akkeshi product I’ve tried, I can say I’m very impressed and satisfied with this pour. This is not something I’d be whipping out on the daily, for obvious reasons. Rather, I’d be reserving this for special occasions, friends, and family.

Akkeshi Distillery, still being relatively new, prices its products at a premium, and nearly every release so far has been a limited edition of its kind. From what it seems, there is no “core/regular lineup” coming out from this distillery (not yet at least), so if you’re looking to get your hands on a bottle, you had better be sure keep a close eye on their release schedule, be in Japan, and be ready to part ways with your hard-earned cash because once these hit the shelves — they’re gone.

I’d say a bottle of Akkeshi would make for a fantastic gift to give to a friend or a loved one but… good luck finding one. It’s literally a battlefield out there to get one. You can go online to save yourself the hassle of embarking on a golden egg hunt, but know you’ll likely be paying double or even triple MSRP.

Now, going back to the bottle itself, Akkeshi Kokuu — do I recommend this? The answer is, YES.

However, it’s probably not something for a whiskey beginner. There’s a lot going on in a here, and for someone who’s just stepping into the world of whiskey, they’ll likely not have found their palate preferences just yet. For someone in this realm, I would suggest doing a “try before you buy”.

Personally, I would buy this again at its MSRP, and even at a “reasonable secondary” price if I wanted another but couldn’t find one at MSRP. This isn’t worth double its price though, in my opinion. As a blended whisky, Akkeshi Kokuu is a solid dram, and would actually prefer a pour of this over some of the more popularly known Suntory and Nikka bottles out there.

Rating: 4/5

5 – Perfect: This is the whiskey’s whiskey. It’s an experience that feels like all the stars in the universe have aligned to produce the perfect sip. It’s got the complexity, the balance, and the character that make it truly unforgettable. If this whiskey were a sports team, it’d be the undefeated champion. It doesn’t just tick every box, it sets the standard.

4 – Great: One heck of a pour, but it falls just a hair shy of perfection. Maybe it’s a note that didn’t quite sing or a finish that left a bit too soon. Regardless, it’s a bottle I’m proud to have on my shelf and eager to share with fellow whiskey lovers, friends, and family. If it were a sports team, it’d make the playoffs consistently.

3 – Average: This is the everyday player. It doesn’t steal the spotlight but puts on a decent show. It’s reliable, enjoyable, and doesn’t disappoint, but it probably won’t blow you away either. It’s the solid middle ground, the dependable third baseman you need in every game.

2 – Sub-par: Has some glaring flaws. Maybe the aroma doesn’t deliver, or the taste falls flat. It’s not without its merits, but it’s a bit like that promising rookie who can’t quite perform under pressure. It might be good for a casual sip now and then, but it won’t be the star of my collection.

1 – Poor: This missed the mark. It’s a bit like a team that’s lost its way in the middle of the season. Whether it’s a harsh finish, an unbalanced palate, or an underwhelming nose, something just isn’t sitting right. It’s one for the days when I’m feeling forgiving or adventurous.

0 – Unacceptable: Equivalent of a team that didn’t even show up for the match. It’s not just that it has flaws – it’s that those flaws overshadow any potential merit. It’s hard to find anything positive to say about this one.