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Everything you need to know about Akashi Eigashima Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Eigashima Akashi 9 Year Old Single Cask #1467B - 2014 Whisky Mew£189.99 Inc VAT -
Akashi Japanese Blended Whisky White Oak Meisei£35.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Akashi Eigashima, Japan. Founded in 1888
Japan’s Coastal Whisky Rebel
Tucked away in the port city of Akashi, near Kobe, Akashi Distillery — also known as Eigashima or White Oak — has quietly been doing its own thing for over a century. It was originally a sake brewery, established back in 1888, and it holds the honour of being one of the first in Japan to obtain a whisky production licence — way back in 1919.
Despite this head start, the distillery didn’t start producing serious whisky until 1984, when it set up a proper still house designed for malt production. Since then, Akashi has slowly but surely made a name for itself as a coastal distillery with a style that’s clean, soft, and just a little smoky — like a sea breeze in a bottle.
It's small-scale, seasonal, and completely family-owned. No massive warehouses, no flashy branding. Just a coastal town making good whisky with heart.
Flavour Profile: Light, Clean, and Coastal
Akashi whiskies have a very approachable style — think Japanese finesse with just a whisper of Scottish inspiration. There’s sweetness and fruit, but also a touch of smoke and plenty of that sea-salted air.
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Peaty / Smoky |
Sweet | Fruity |
Akashi is known for its clean, slightly maritime single malts that offer soft orchard fruit, subtle malt sweetness, and a hint of smoke. Key flavour notes include:
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Crisp green apple and pear
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Gentle biscuit and cereal notes
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Vanilla and light honey sweetness
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A faint wisp of peat and briny sea spray
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Peat Smoke |
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Vanilla |
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Apple / Pear |
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Malt / Biscuit / Toast |
Popular Bottlings from Akashi
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Akashi White Oak Blended Whisky – A light, entry-level dram with soft malt and orchard fruit
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Akashi Single Malt (Non-Age Statement) – Fruity and delicate, with sherry or bourbon cask influence
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Akashi Sake Cask Finish – A uniquely Japanese expression, with hints of rice sweetness and umami
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Akashi 5-Year-Old & 10-Year-Old – More mature and complex, with richer vanilla, spice, and subtle smoke
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Single Cask and Limited Editions – A mix of tequila, cognac, chestnut, and wine cask finishes for the curious drinker
These whiskies are often limited in production and can be tricky to find, but they’re well worth the hunt.
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The Distillery
Akashi Eigashima Distillery
919 Nishijima, Okubo-cho, Akashi City, Hyōgo Prefecture 674-0065, Japan
 Open in maps |
 No site |
 +81 78-946-1001 |
Visitor Information
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Address: 919 Nishijima, Okubo-cho, Akashi City, Hyōgo Prefecture 674-0065, Japan
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Telephone: +81 78 946 1001
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Visitor Centre:
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Open by appointment only
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Tours are available, usually led in Japanese, but English handouts are often provided
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Visitors can see both the whisky distillery and the traditional sake brewery
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Ownership and History
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Current Owner: Eigashima Shuzo Co. Ltd – Family-owned since the late 1800s
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Founded: 1888 (sake); whisky licensed in 1919; modern whisky production began in 1984
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Production Notes:
Distillery Facts
History and Background
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Founded: Eigashima Shuzo was founded in 1679 as a sake brewery.
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Whisky License: Became the first company in Japan to obtain a whisky production license in 1919.
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Whisky Distilling: Began full-scale whisky distillation in the early 1980s with the establishment of the White Oak distillery.
Location and Ownership
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Location: Based in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, near Osaka Bay.
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Climate: Benefits from a coastal climate with warm summers and cool winters, accelerating whisky maturation.
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Family-Owned: Operated by the same family for generations, now run by the ninth generation.
Production and Equipment
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Small Scale: One of Japan's smallest whisky distilleries, producing around 48,000 litres annually.
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Stills: Operates with two copper pot stills for malt whisky production.
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Distillation Period: Production runs seasonally from autumn through early spring.
Whisky Styles
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Akashi Blended Whisky: A mix of grain and malt whisky, lightly peated, designed to be approachable and balanced.
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Akashi Single Malt: Lightly peated and matured in a range of cask types, offering coastal and fruity notes.
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Limited Editions: Releases small-batch and single-cask whiskies, often finished in unique barrels such as sherry, sake, brandy, wine, or local Konara oak.
Maturation and Casks
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Cask Types: Uses a wide variety including ex-bourbon, sherry, brandy, cognac, wine, and Japanese oak.
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Warehouse: Stores casks in a small on-site facility, with only about 1,000 barrels in total.
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Maturation Style: Warm coastal air and rapid seasonal changes contribute to faster aging and increased evaporation (angel’s share).
Flavor Profile
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Blended Whisky: Light, slightly sweet, with hints of vanilla, honey, dried fruit, and soft peat.
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Single Malt: Offers delicate citrus, malt, light smoke, sea breeze, and a clean, dry finish.
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House Style: Tends to be soft, subtle, and refined—often lighter than many Scottish or American counterparts.
Reputation
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Craft Distillery: Known for its small-batch focus, artisanal approach, and traditional Japanese whisky-making philosophy.
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Historic Status: Holds distinction as Japan’s first licensed whisky distiller.
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Akashi Eigashima Whisky to Buy
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