Prices
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More from this distillery: All Akkeshi whiskies and prices
About
What it is
The fifth release in Akkeshi's Twenty Four Solar Terms series, out on 25 November 2021 at 55%. Ritto means the beginning of winter. It's remembered in the series as the sherry release, and it won over drinkers who don't usually reach for Akkeshi.
Where it comes from
Single malt, which in Akkeshi's range means entirely the distillery's own spirit, distilled and matured on site in Hokkaido. The blends in the same series use imported grain whisky aged at Akkeshi, so the single malt label is the thing to look for. No formal producer statement against the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association standard has surfaced, but the production raises no question.
How it's made
Akkeshi started distilling in 2016 on the far eastern coast of Hokkaido, on a deliberately Islay-inspired setup with Forsyths pot stills, peated malt and coastal maturation in sea fog. It's one of the very few Japanese distilleries cutting local peat, from the marshland around the site. Ritto departs from the house pattern by leaning heavily on sherry casks rather than letting mizunara and peat lead, which is why it reads so differently to the rest of the series.
What to expect
Sherry forward, with dried fruit, raisin and a dark sweetness sitting over the distillery's peat rather than beside it. The smoke is still there but it's playing a supporting role. At 55% it has weight, and water opens it up considerably. If you found the earlier Akkeshi releases too austere, this is the one that changes your mind.
How it compares
Against Boshu, the previous single malt, that one is more obviously peat and citrus led. Against Taisetsu, the ninth release, mizunara is more prominent there. Against Akkeshi's blends like Daikan and Shosho, those are lighter, cheaper and carry the imported grain component. Against a sherried Islay malt, Ritto is the closest Japanese analogue you'll find, though the peat is softer and more aromatic.
