Akashi Double Distilleries

The Akashi Double Distilleries is a blended malt that brings together single malt whisky from two independent Japanese distilleries: Eigashima Shuzo, based in Akashi, Hyogo, and Wakatsuru's Saburomaru distillery, located in Toyama on the Sea of Japan coast. Bottled at cask strength, 62% ABV, in 2022 for the Japanese market, it is an NAS collaboration release showcasing two very different house styles.

Maturation across Pedro Ximenez and Ex-Bourbon casks introduces a rich, sweet dried fruit character from the PX wood alongside the vanilla and cereal notes the bourbon casks contribute. Eigashima is known for its clean, coastal malt, while Saburomaru is the older-school, more heavily peated outlier of the two, so the blend bridges a contrast in character. No specific flavour notes were recorded, but the cask combination at this strength should produce a full, sweet and warming dram.