The UK-based division of Amber Beverage Group has released five bottlings of both the Akashi and Togouchi Japanese whisky brands in the UK.
Togouchi is made at Sakurao Brewery & Distillery, a small distillery in Hatsukaichi, located in southern Japan, which normally produces sake and only began producing whisky in 1990. The Togouchi range includes whiskies that have been finished in beer and sake casks.
The Togouchi whiskies new to the UK are: Togouchi Beer Cask (40% alcohol by volume – 80 proof), Togouchi Sake Cask (40% alcohol by volume – 80 proof), Togouchi Pure Malt (40% alcohol by volume – 80 proof) and Togouchi Single Malt (43% alcohol by volume – 86 proof).
Akashi’s sole new entry in the UK market will be Akashi Blended Sherry Cask (50% alcohol by volume – 100 proof).
Akashi is produced at Eigashima Distillery, based in the coastal city of Akashi, and also, normally, a sake producer but which has been producing whisky since 1984. Akashi whiskies are stored for between three to eight years mostly in oak casks previously used for bourbon, sherry, wine, or sake.
