The 17th release of the latest in the YOIYO series will go on sale on October 29. YOIYO whisky Shousho”.
The latest in the YOIYO series has been released for the first time in half a year.
This time, chocolates using “Single Malt Shousho” from the well-known Akkeshi Distillery 24 Season Series will be on sale.
What kind of chocolate will be made from Shousho, which has a delicate and complex composition that can be called “Japanese peat”?
Sales will begin on October 29 (Tue.) at 10:00 a.m. at Lotte Group’s official online mall.
1. 17th YOIYO whisky Shousho
(Image exhibit: YOIYO official website)
This year marks the fourth consecutive year of collaboration with the Akkeshi Distillery in Hokkaido, the 17th in the series.
It is a leading distillery of Japanese craft whisky that is highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad, and its whisky is very difficult to obtain even for those in the bar industry.This time, we were specially provided with a bottle of the 24 Season Series
The concept of this whisky is Tanabata, the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.Its concept is Tanabata.
It is a glamorous beginning of a long-awaited once-a-year reunion for Orihime and Hikoboshi.
The blend has a lingering aftertaste that evokes the sadness of parting,
It is a whisky that will make you happy with just one sip.
The most milky chocolate in YOIYO’s history melts gently with the heavily peated “whisky Shousho”. The taste is an exquisite marriage, just like the “*Cowboy,” a cocktail made by mixing milk and whisky. To match the spicy aroma of the small heat, the chocolate is made with a special vanilla that is a little spicier than usual. A mellow piece of chocolate is now ready to explore the delicacy of peat and the depth of flavor.
YOIYO Akkeshi Story
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I wanted to create a formula that would be exciting for our customers,
whisky Koge is made with a variety of cask liquors.Japanese people can sense the subtlety, so we use Japanese
I hope that our customers will explore the heavy peated elements that are unique to Japaneseness.Like the sake, chocolate is more interesting to play with.
I hope to bring out the best of both whisky and chocolate in each other.
We asked them to put together a cocktail-like formula that would bring out the best in both whisky and chocolate.Mr. Katsuyuki Tatsuzaki, Distillery Director and Chief Blender
| Product Name | YOIYO Whisky Shogatsu |
| Release date | October 29, 2024 |
| Retail price |
10 eco-packs
Set of 4 (with special gift bag) |
What is “YOIYO”?
Chocolates that make you feel intoxicated by Japan.
There is a Japan you don’t know yet.
It is the taste of pure water, local ingredients, and traditional techniques.
We have packed carefully crafted sake into a single piece.
Enjoy it at dusk or after dinner as if you were going on a trip.
This is a chocolate for adults.
Have a good night, feeling a little tipsy.
YOIYO” is a “Japanese craft sake chocolate” sold by Lotte Corporation, a chocolate containing alcohol like a so-called whisky bonbon. With Japanese whisky as the main ingredient, the greatness, persistence, and thoughts of the maker of the sake and the maker of the chocolate are packed into a single piece of chocolate.
The package design of each product has a fashionable design printed with the regional scenery of each distillery and distiller.
| Distillery name | Sake used | |
| Part 1 | Komagatake Distillery | Single malt Komagatake |
| 2nd distillery | Komagatake Distillery | Single malt Komagatake Yakushima aging |
| Part 3 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Boushu |
| No.4 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Risshun |
| No.5 | Gaia Flow Distillery | Single cask W782 |
| No.6 | Tsunuki Distillery | Single malt Tsunuki |
| No.7 | Sakurao distillery | SAKURAO GIN LIMITED |
| No.8 | Aoki Shuzo Brewery | Japanese Sake “Yukiotoko” |
| 9th distillery | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Taisetsu |
| Vol.10 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Taisetsu |
| Vol.11 | Saburomaru Distillery | Single cask Saburomaru |
| Vol.12 | Azumi Distillery | Single Malt Azumi |
| Vol. 13 | Azumi Distillery | Single Malt Azumi |
| Vol.14 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Hakuro |
| Vol.15 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Hakuro |
| Vol.16 | Kanosuke Distillery | Single Malt Kanosuke |
| Vol.17 | Akkeshi Distillery | Akkeshi 24 Season Series Single Malt Single Malt Shousho |
For details of past YOIYO products, please visit the official website.
3. products of the Akkeshi Distillery
For details of products from the Akkeshi Distillery, please see here ↓.
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.
