Akkeshi Distillery Foundations #2 Bourbon Barrel Single Malt 200ml, Hokkaido

58% ABV.

One of the world's most anticipated new distilleries, Akkeshi is the first new whisky distillery in Hokkaido in around 80 years. The company's founder, Toita-san, has essentially set out his stall to recreate the quality and style of his beloved Islay malts in Japan. Everything about the distillery's equipment, processes and suppliers has been fashioned to match those of Islay's top distilleries. Based in the small fishing town of Akkeshi, chosen as an ideal spot to produce peated whisky because of its environmental reminiscences to the island of Islay in Scotland. Even the water used in the production has passed through a layer of peat.

Although he originally intended to wait until his whisky hit the three-year-old mark before releasing anything official, Toita-san's New Born concept was conceived to lead up to the first malt release and communicate Akkeshi's progress to whisky enthusiasts throughout the world. The second of the four-part limited release, Foundations 2 is a vatted spirit of first-fill, ex-bourbon barrels matured between 8-18 months. Unlike the first release, Foundations 2 is a peated expression distilled using heavy-peated barley from the UK and bottled at 58% ABV.