The Akkeshi distillery located on the northernmost island of Hokkaido of the Japanese archipelago presents single malt Ritto, a 100% Japanese whisky, distilled, aged, assembled and bottled in Japan. This whisky reveals a fruity and complex profile with a nose that expresses fruity notes of orange accompanied by gourmet notes of chocolate and a floral touch. In the mouth, its silky texture highlights the sweetness of orange and bitter cocoa aromas to which wine and cereal notes are added. It is in the final that its spicy spirit will begin to reveal itself just like the peat that will persist in a perfect balance. Made from peat and non-peat malted barley, part of which comes from a local variety grown in Hokkaido, this single malt is a blend of malt whiskies matured 3 to 4 years in barrels of mizunara quercus crispula, sherry, bourbon and Burgundy red wine. Compared to the previous edition, a larger share of sherry barrels will be used in the assembly with the use of a few mizunara barrels as key malt as well as a surprise element with a barrel of Burgundy red wine. Akkeshi peated Ritto is the fifth single malt in the "24 Sekki" series inspired by the old Japanese calendar where a year is divided into 24 solar seasons that each have a name and are all associated with a precise seasonal change such as the beginning of winter or the spring equinox. Ritto, the 19th season, refers to the beginning of winter when the leaves have all fallen from the trees, and the cold begins to cover and freeze nature.