Smooth But Lacking
Akashi, a blended Japanese whisky, comes from a distillery with very limited output, only being in operation a couple months each year. The bottle I'm tasting is the import available in the United States, which is different in formulation from the domestic release available in Japan. While the domestic release incorporates something called "molasses spirit", the international release uses imported grain whiskey instead.
The nose has a mild sweetness that gives way to a light campfire smell. The lack of ethanol is pleasant, but overall the nose doesn't have much substance. The palate turns that sweetness into something almost reminiscent of bubblegum and honey, while the wood begins to come in just a tad to cut through that taste. The finish is short, almost bitter, without much else going on.
The blend is straight-forward, focused on bringing a single consistent note throughout without any complexities. There's nothing too unique about it either, as it doesn't have much character of its own. Overall, this could be a pleasant sip with food or as a highball, but I wouldn't turn to it for a special pour.
