The latest in the Nijushisekki Series from Akkeshi Distillery is now on sale. Single malt “Risshu” product review, features and price.
The Nijushisekki Series has finally reached its 20th installment. This Risshu is positioned as the opening of the final movement of the Nijushisekki Series.
Risshyu is one of the Nijushisekki, and according to the calendar, autumn begins on this day.
It usually falls around August 7, and although it is still very hot today, the height of the sky and the lightness of the wind gradually remind us of the autumn season. Dusk falls early, and the sound of insects can be heard at a moment’s notice, reminding us of the change of the season.
It is also a good time to send out a late summer greeting card.
| Part 1 | single malt whisky Kanro | October 28, 2020 Release |
| Part 2 | Blended Whisky Usui | February 28, 2021 Release |
| Part 3 | Single malt Japanese whisky Boushu | May 28, 2021 Release |
| Part 4 | Blended Whisky Shosho | August 25, 2021 Release |
| Part 5 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Rittou | November 25, 2021 Release |
| Part 6 | Blended Whisky Daikan | February 25, 2022 Release |
| Part 7 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Seimei | May 30, 2022 Release |
| Part 8 | Blended Whisky Taisho | August 26, 2022 Release |
| Part 9 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Taisetsu | December 5, 2022 Release |
| Part 10 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Keichitsu | February 27, 2023 Release |
| Part 11 | Blended Whisky Shouman | May 31, 2023 Release |
| Part 12 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Hakuro | August 24, 2023 Release |
| Part 13 | Blended Whisky Shousetsu | November 22, 2023 Release |
| Part 14 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Risshun | February 22, 2024 Release |
| Part 15 | Blended Whisky Kokuu | May 25, 2024 Release |
| Part 16 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Shousho | August 26, 2024 Release |
| Part 17 | Blended Whisky Soukou | November 27, 2024 Release |
| Part 18 | Single Blended Japanese Whisky Touji | February 22, 2025 Release |
| Part 19 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Rikka | May 27, 2025 Release |
| Part 20 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky Risshuu | August 27, 2025 Release |
１．Product name and photo
Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Risshu
AKKESHI Single Malt Japanese Whisky RISSHU
２．Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky Risshu Feature
The thin moon silently watches over the departing summer.
The reflection on the surface of Lake Akkeshi.
A night when the Berceuse meteor shower is falling.
The aged Akkeshi malt gives off a citrus aroma with a soft beat.
The key malt is a Hokkaido Mizunara oak barrel.
Please enjoy the opening of the final movement of the Nijushisekki.
fragrance
peach and apricot compote, vanilla served with custard pudding, black honey, dried persimmon, soft smoky scent like a bonfire
Taste
lemon cake, orange macaroon, light acidity like a rum candy
Lingering
coarsely ground black pepper, delicious pungency like ginger soy sauce, and a hint of lemon candy sweetness
２-１．Tasting Notes
| fragrance | Peach, cream doughnut, flint-like mineral, hemp rope, wispy smoke |
| flavor | Orange gummies, lemon herb salt, gingerbread, pepper spice cookies |
| Afterglow | Sweetness and acidity on the nose with a dry, spicy aftertaste that lingers for a very long time. |
２-２．Product Specs
| alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) | 55% |
| Distinction by Alcohol | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Liquor in the barrel | Key Malt: All Hokkaido Whisky (Hokkaido malt, distilled at Akkeshi Distillery, using Hokkaido Mizunara oak casks) |
| quantity of content | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | ー |
| Release Date | August 27, 2025 |
３．Awards
There are no awards at this time.
４．Price
４-１．Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| trade (brand) name | Akkeshi Single Blended Whisky Risshu |
| quantity of content | 700ml |
| MSRP | 23,100 yen (including tax) |
４-２．Resale prices on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is in the range of about $30,000. (*As of 8/28/2025)
４-３．Yahoo Auction Sold Price
The latest price on Yahoo Auctions was confirmed at 22,500 yen (*as of 8/28/2025).
４-４．Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
On the mail order site, we confirmed that the price is currently around 24,000 yen, or about the list price for a tie-in product.
(*As of 8/28/2025)
４-５．Prices at BAR Shinkai
On the “BAR Shinkai” website operated by this site, a glass is priced at 45ml: 6,270 yen, 30ml: 4,180 yen, and 15ml: 2,090 yen.
５．Manufacturer
Kenten Jitsugyo Co.
| Establishment | 1982 |
| Location of the Head Office | Imperial Hotel Tokyo, 1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Japan |
| Owned Distilleries | Akkeshi Distillery |
６．Distillery
Akkeshi Distillery
| location | 4-109-2 Miyazono, Akkeshi-cho, Akkeshi-gun, Hokkaido 088-1124, Japan |
| Commencement of Operations | October 2016 |
2015 Distillery construction begins.
2016 Distillation commenced in October.
2017 2nd maturation library completed
2018 February: First product release as Akkeshi Distillery. 3rd maturation library completed
2020 First single malt whisky in February「sarorunkamuy」released.
The 4th maturation library was completed in April.
Released “Single Malt Kanro”, the first in the October Nijushisekki Series.
2021 New barley milling building (operation scheduled for 2022)
2023 The 5th maturation library was completed in April.
The concept is “whisky that inherits the traditional Scottish process and has a flavor typical of Akkeshi.
Deep fog with tidal air, clear air, and abundant peat. We started distilling in 2016, believing that the climate of Akkeshi in Hokkaido will create the unknown flavor of Japanese whisky that we seek.
In order to make the most of the “terroir” of Hokkaido and Akkeshi in whisky making, we will continue to hone our skills in this region, and at the same time, we will continue to be more deeply in touch with the people and nature of the region. Barley and Quercus crispula grown in the land of Hokkaido, the beautiful water of Akkeshi, and peat containing abundant minerals. Our wish is to make everything from Hokkaido and deliver to the world a Japanese whiskey that cannot be found anywhere else.
quote：Blender’s Attention【Akkeshi Distillery】
With a strong desire to “make whisky like Islay malt using the traditional Scottish process,” equipment was installed by Forsyth in Scotland. All construction was carried out by Forsyth craftsmen visiting Japan. The pot stills are straight-headed and onion-shaped, similar to those at some distilleries on Islay. Heating is by radiator system (indirect heating), and the attached condenser is of shell-and-tube type and the mash tun is of semi-reuter type.
All fermentation tanks (washbacks) are made of stainless steel and intentionally designed without temperature control. The craftsmen monitor the fermentation process, relying on natural conditions to determine the optimal timing.
The ripening rooms are currently from the first to the fifth ripening room. The first is a dunnage type, and the second (next to the filling building) is currently used to store products prior to shipment. The third to fifth maturing warehouses are rack type, and are located on a hill overlooking Akkeshi Bay, where “sea fog,” which smells of the sea, envelops the entire town of Akkeshi and deepens the maturation of the malt.
In addition to bourbon and sherry, we also use hard-to-find “Mzunara” oak barrels for aging. In addition, we are challenging every possibility, such as matching with wine and rum barrels.
In addition, the barley used to make the whisky is grown in Akkeshi, and everything, including the peat and wooden barrels used for aging, is produced in Akkeshi, with the aim of creating an “Akkeshi All-Star” whisky in the future. In August 2021, we started a trial project to age the sake distilled at the Akkeshi distillery in Furano. What kind of changes will the original sake matured in Furano bring about?
This is exactly what terroir is, taking advantage of the great individuality of not only the locality of Akkeshi, but also “Hokkaido”. The idea of “terroir,” which wine connoisseurs have probably heard a lot about, is incorporated into whisky, and the fusion of “the character of Akkeshi” and “the character of Hokkaido” to create whisky that makes use of the terroir of these lands is fascinating and the expectations are infinite.
Lake Akkeshi and Bekanbeushi Marsh around Akkeshi-Chou are registered wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, aims to promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands as habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife under international cooperation.
We, too, aim to protect and coexist with this rich natural environment.
The intake of the tap water used for the whisky is the Homakai River upstream of the Oboro River, which runs near the distillery. Its water, which passes through a layer of peat, is brownish-brown in color.
The surrounding area is a marshland and a habitat for baikamo, which is said to live only in clear streams. The small white flowers that bloom in summer are a symbol of the abundant water. This water nurtures the whisky of Akkeshi.
quotation element：Akkeshi Distillery Official Website
 |
 |
 |
For information on the Akkeshi Distillery, please see also here↓.
７．Summary
We have reached the 20th of the Nijushisekki, and the remaining days are the “Shoukan”, “Shunbun”, “Geshi”, and “Shuubun”. There are four left: Will Furano aged sake, grain from Akkeshi, or whisky made from peat from Akkeshi be used in this product?
The whisky of Akkeshi, which reflects the four seasons, will soon be making its rounds. However, the journey is not over.
Construction of a distillery in Furano is underway, and various events such as the Akkeshi Fan Meeting and the Akkeshi Night are being held more and more often.
We would like to continue to pay attention to the new story of Akkeshi beyond the Nijushisekki.
■Please also see other articles about “Akkeshi Distillery and Akkeshi Whisky”.
https://jpwhisky.net/akkeshi-rikka-50998/
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
