The Akkeshi Peated Single Malt 2020 Kanro Season, 55%

Japan’s Sekki system divides the solar calendar into 24 seasons: The 17th season represents cold drops of dew. The nose is mellow with charcoal, vanilla, cigar wrapper, espresso, milk chocolate, hazelnut, and ground cumin. Thick-textured, with baked orange, instant smoke, red apple, clove, pepper, and gingerbread, it settles down to deliver roasted nuts, spice, dark chocolate, and berry fruits. Preferable with water, it becomes more of what the whisky promised to the nose.