Nose: Some earthyness, shiitake mushrooms, roasted malt, roasted chestnuts, vanilla, biscuits(American style) a cereal note and a little tar. Still some youthful notes of steamed green vegetables. More Scotch like than most Japanese Whiskies I’ve tasted. Nothing much changes with water added.
Palate: There is a sweetness but more candied fruits rather than fresh. Caramel, chocolate brownies, some baking spices and earthyness. Not really detecting the peat which may come as the bottle empties. A savoury element like spicey beef rissoles. Not particularly complex. With water a soft malty theme emerges.
Finish: Earthy and a combination of steamed green vegies and spicy beef rissoles. With water soft malt and vanilla then a little oaky dryness.
Last Word: I have tasted all the Akkeshi releases so far and for reasons I’m not quite sure about they seem a few years away from producing whiskies as well resolved and complex as those from the likes of Mars, Chichibu and Kanosuke of the same age.

Rating: 80/100