The second collaboration bottle between the hugely popular “Bayside Shakedown” series and the Akkeshi Distillery is set to go on sale!
Following the previous “Muroi” bottle, this time it’s the “Aoshima” bottle.

The second collaboration bottle, “Aoshima,” is scheduled for release in the fall of 2026. Applications for the lottery-based sale are expected to open in late August.
This release will feature a larger production run of 1,213 bottles, in honor of Shunsaku Aoshima’s birthday on December 13.

1. Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese Whisky “Aoshima”

1-1. Overview

Overview

To commemorate the release of the movie *Bayside Shakedown N.E.W. Run Through Metropolis!*, BS Fuji Co., Ltd. will release a limited-edition single malt whisky specially bottled by the Akkeshi Distillery (Kenten Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.).This marks the second collaboration between the Akkeshi Distillery and the “Bayside Shakedown” series, following “Shinji Muroi The Undefeated” and “Shinji Muroi The One Who Lives On.”

“Bayside Shakedown” and “Akkeshi Distillery”

Akkeshi Distillery began production in 2016 in Akkeshi, located in eastern Hokkaido, because the local climate and terrain resemble those of Islay, Scotland—often referred to as the “holy land of whisky.”Since then, the distillery has been sincerely dedicated to crafting its products from scratch, approaching whisky-making with integrity while adhering to traditional Scottish methods.

Although Akkeshi Distillery has quickly become a Japanese whisky maker recognized worldwide, it originally entered the industry from a completely different sector, and none of its founders had any prior experience in whisky production.

Against this backdrop, their journey—featuring step-by-step trial and error, ingenuity, the establishment of production processes, and the refinement of techniques to deepen the layers of their whisky—resonates not only with Shunsaku Aoshima but also with the people surrounding him in the “Bayside Shakedown” series.

The fact that Akkeshi Distillery embraced the series’ worldview with such empathy led to the creation of this bottle.

One of the appeals of whisky is the long maturation process involved in its production and the ability to pass the torch across generations. Just as the “Bayside Shakedown” series has been enjoyed across generations, we present the single malt whisky “Aoshima” with all our heart, so that it may continue to be enjoyed for years to come.

 

Comment from Katsuyuki Tatsuzaki, Head of the Whisky Business Division and Chief Blender at Akkeshi Distillery

For me, the image that comes to mind when I think of Shunsaku Aoshima is “Dawn.”
Amid organizational gridlock, when the front lines felt as stifling as a night that would never end, it was his purity and passion that brought light to the situation and instilled hope that change might be possible. His courage—to keep fighting on the front lines despite his weaknesses and doubts—was a source of solace for me as well.I have poured my respect and admiration for Aoshima into this bottle.

In my previous project, “Muroi,” I expressed Shinji Muroi’s vision of an “organization dedicated to doing what is right” and the conviction that shone through it like a ray of “light.” I feel that, for those on the front lines, Muroi himself was the very embodiment of “hope” within the organization.

And now—if “Muroi” is light, then “Aoshima” is dawn. He is the one who takes the hope kindled within the organization and turns it into reality on the front lines. That is precisely why, ever since I worked on “Muroi,” I knew “Aoshima” was a figure I simply had to portray as well.

In *Shinji Muroi The Undefeated* and *Shinji Muroi The One Who Lives On*, I was deeply moved as a creator by the scenes of the cast savoring their own whisky.In contrast, in this latest work, Shunsaku Aoshima does not drink whisky because he is on duty; however, I had the opportunity to speak directly with Yuji Oda on set, and by gaining insight into his character, I was able to give a more concrete form to my vision of the whisky’s flavor profile.

This bottle expresses Aoshima’s way of life—continuing to move forward even while filled with doubt—through the whisky. While centered around a key malt, we deliberately left room for a sense of “fluctuation” and “breathing space” that cannot be fully contained, crafting a flavor that quietly harbors a deep passion.Not a sense of completed strength, but the will to stand firm even amidst uncertainty. That conviction spreads to those around him and eventually transforms the atmosphere on set—we’ve poured that story into every glass.

Blender’s Product Concept

Shunsaku Aoshima was a man who never stopped standing on the front lines, even while grappling with doubts.Wasn’t it his pure conviction and passion that brought a sense of anticipation—that a new horizon might dawn—to a workplace shrouded in an atmosphere of resignation and an organization where it was difficult to make a move? Furthermore, I feel that his very presence awakened not only his own spirit but also the dormant aspirations within those around him.

In this whisky, centered around the key malt, we’ve infused it with a sense of fluctuation, space, and a depth that quietly retains warmth.

We would be delighted if you could sense, within its flavor, our admiration for his way of life and the chain of sentiments entrusted to us.

Quote: “Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.” × “Akkeshi Distillery” — Akkeshi Single Malt Japanese whisky “Aoshima” Set for Release in Fall 2026! | Press Release from BS Fuji Co., Ltd.

1-2. Product Specifications

1-3. Lottery Sale Information

The application period for the lottery sale is from Monday, August 24, 2026, to Friday, October 9, 2026.
It is likely that, as with the previous sale, applications for the lottery sale will be accepted via the movie’s special website.

BS Fuji Shopping: Mail-Order & TV Shopping

2. Manufacturer

Kenten Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.

3. Distillery Information

Akkeshi Distillery

2015   Construction of the distillery began
October 2016    Distillation began
2017   Second aging warehouse completed
February 2018    Released the first product under the Akkeshi Distillery brand. Completed the third aging warehouse
February 2020    Released the first single malt whisky, “ Sarorun Kamui.”
　　 April   Completion of the fourth aging warehouse.
October     Release of “Single Malt Kanro,” the first installment in the Nijushisekki series.
2021    New malting building constructed (operational in 2022)
2023    April —Completion of the fifth aging warehouse.

Our concept is “whisky that inherits traditional Scottish production methods while embodying the distinctive flavors of Akkeshi.”

Deep, sea-mist-laden fog, crisp air, and abundant peat. Believing that the terroir of Akkeshi, Hokkaido, would create the unique flavor of Japanese whisky we sought, we began distillation in 2016.
To fully harness the “terroir” of Hokkaido and Akkeshi in our whisky-making, we will continue to hone our craft here while deepening our connection with the local people and nature. Barley and Mizunara oak nurtured by the Hokkaido soil, the beautiful water of Akkeshi, and peat rich in minerals—our wish is to craft everything entirely in Hokkaido and deliver a Japanese whisky unlike any other to the world.
Quote: Blender’s Attention: The Blender’s Commitment [Akkeshi Distillery]

Driven by a strong desire to “produce a whisky similar to Islay malt using traditional Scottish methods,” we installed equipment manufactured by Forsyth of Scotland. All installation work was carried out by Forsyth craftsmen who traveled to Japan specifically for this project.The pot stills feature a straight-head onion shape, similar to those found at several distilleries on the Isle of Islay. Heating is via a radiator system (indirect heating); the attached condenser is a shell-and-tube type; and the mash tun is a semi-Leuter style.
All fermentation tanks (washbacks) are made of stainless steel and are intentionally designed without temperature control. The craftsmen determine the optimal timing for fermentation by relying on natural processes.