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Everything you need to know about 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
Eigashima, Japan. Founded in 1888
Small, Coastal, and Slightly Unusual
If you’re exploring Japanese whisky beyond the big names, Eigashima is one that quietly stands out. It doesn’t have the scale of Suntory or Nikka, and it doesn’t try to. What you get instead is something smaller, more hands-on, and a bit different.
The distillery itself — often called the White Oak Distillery — sits in Akashi, right by the coast. That location matters. The sea air and changing temperatures shape how the whisky matures, giving it a slightly softer, sometimes lightly salty edge.
Eigashima’s story actually starts long before whisky. The company, Eigashima Shuzo, was founded in 1888 making sake and shochu. Whisky came later — and interestingly, they were one of the first in Japan to get a whisky licence back in 1919.
Production has always been small. Even today, whisky isn’t made year-round, which gives it a slightly “batch-like” feel. It’s not rushed, and it doesn’t flood the market. You can tell.
Flavour Profile: Light, Clean, and Coastal
Eigashima (often released under the Akashi name) tends to be light, balanced, and easy to drink, with a bit of coastal influence.
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Oaky / Woody |
Malty / Cereal | Fruity |
Eigashima is known for producing whisky that feels clean, slightly delicate, but still full enough to hold your attention:
- Fresh citrus and orchard fruit notes on the nose
- A soft malty sweetness through the middle
- A finish with vanilla, oak, and sometimes a faint salty edge
Some expressions also show light peat or nutty notes depending on the cask mix.
It’s not heavy. It’s not smoky. It’s more about balance and subtle flavour — the kind of whisky you can sit with rather than analyse.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Oak / Wood Spice |
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Vanilla |
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Apple / Pear |
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Malt / Biscuit / Toast |
Popular Bottles
Here’s what you’ll typically see from Eigashima:
- Akashi Blended Whisky
The core release. Light, smooth, and approachable. Often aged in bourbon casks with vanilla and spice notes. - Akashi Single Malt
Produced at the distillery itself. Slightly richer, sometimes lightly peated, with more depth. - Akashi Sherry Cask Finish
Adds dried fruit and spice from sherry casks, giving a bit more weight and sweetness. - Akashi Meïsei / Limited Editions
Small-batch releases with higher malt content or different cask combinations.
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The Distillery
Eigashima Distillery
919 Okubo-cho, Akashi, Hyōgo, Japan
 Open in maps |
 https://www.ei-sake.jp |
 +81 78-946-1001 |
Visitor Information
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Visitor Centre
- Visitor Centre: Limited
- Tours: Not widely commercialised
This isn’t a large-scale visitor attraction. It’s more of a working distillery. If you do visit, it feels quieter and less structured than the bigger Japanese sites.
Ownership History
Current Owner:
- Eigashima Shuzo
Previous Ownership:
- Founded in 1888 as a sake and shochu producer
- Gained whisky licence in 1919
- Established the modern distillery (White Oak) in 1984
The key thing here is continuity. It hasn’t been passed around between big drinks groups — it’s remained under the same company.
Distillery Facts
https://lochsofwhisky.com/scotch-whisky/sherry-whiskyOverview
- Founded: 1888 (as a sake producer)
- Whisky licence: 1919 (one of Japan’s earliest)
- Location: Akashi
- Also known as: White Oak Distillery
- Type: Distillery / whisky producer
What Eigashima Is
- A long-established Japanese drinks company that diversified into whisky early, but only produced it intermittently for decades.
- Better known today for its Akashi whisky range, which has gained international recognition.
Production & Approach
- Historically produced whisky in small batches, often only for short periods each year.
- Uses:
- Traditional copper pot stills
- A mix of Japanese and imported casks (including ex-bourbon and sherry)
- Production scale is relatively small compared to major Japanese producers.
Key Brands
- Akashi Blended Whisky
- Akashi Single Malt Whisky
These are the main expressions representing the distillery globally.
Style & Profile
Typical Eigashima / Akashi characteristics:
- Light and clean
- Citrus and orchard fruit (apple, pear)
- Subtle malt sweetness
- Gentle oak influence
Generally more delicate than heavier Japanese styles.
Positioning
- Positioned as a smaller, traditional Japanese distillery
- Appeals to:
- Buyers exploring beyond major names like Suntory and Nikka
- Those interested in lighter, approachable Japanese whisky
- Collectors of lesser-known distilleries
Important Clarification
- “Eigashima” refers to the company, while “White Oak” is the distillery name, and “Akashi” is the whisky brand.
- All three are closely linked and often used interchangeably in the market.
Eigashima Whisky to Buy
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