Eigashima Shuzo, a long-established distillery located by the sea in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, has rolled out a renewed version of its flagship Single Malt Akashi (500ml / ¥4,070 including tax) from June 1, 2026.
Aged in the mild coastal environment where sea breezes shape its character, Single Malt Akashi is the brand's representative whisky. The renewal focuses on building greater fruitiness and a longer finish while staying true to the whisky's established profile. The blend ratio has been revised to incorporate multiple different sherry cask expressions, resulting in a richer fruit character and a quietly lingering finish. The alcohol content has also been adjusted, making the whisky more approachable and keeping it at an accessible price point — welcoming both seasoned whisky drinkers and those just beginning to explore the category.
A Fresh Look to Match the New Character
The label has been refreshed to a deep green, retaining the impression of the previous green-based design while expressing the greater depth and complexity of the new recipe. Gentle curves evoking the calm waves and tidal flows of the Seto Inland Sea have been incorporated into the design, capturing the quietness and depth that Single Malt Akashi embodies.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Calm aromas of chocolate and oak with hints of cassis, followed by fruity notes of banana and apple, the sweetness of vanilla, and black pepper spice that brings the whole together.
Palate: A smooth mouthfeel with elegant malt-derived sweetness. Bittersweet chocolate notes blend with a light richness, leaving a slightly dry, quietly lingering finish.
Product Details
White Oak Single Malt Akashi
- Size: 500ml (with gift box)
- Ingredients: Malt
- Alcohol content: 43%
- Price: ¥4,070 (tax included)
- Producer: Eigashima Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Akashi, Hyogo)
- Available at: Liquor retailers nationwide and the Eigashima Shuzo online shop (https://shop.ei-sake.jp/)
A 200ml version of the same product is also being renewed simultaneously.
About Eigashima Distillery
Eigashima Distillery is one of Japan's few long-established distilleries that has continued whisky production since the local whisky boom of the 1980s. Its origins trace back to 1919, when the company obtained its whisky production license, and it has maintained its equipment and craft techniques ever since.
The flagship "Akashi" brand is distributed widely both domestically and internationally. In 2019, the distillery was renamed from White Oak Distillery to Eigashima Distillery. Since 2022, the blender-led vatted single malt series "EIGASHIMA" has been in release, and from 2025, a new barrel-focused brand "Kagikiku" (香掬) has been introduced — earning gold awards at domestic and international whisky competitions.
