Akashi whisky is produced by Eigashima Shuzo, also known as White Oak Distillery, in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. Eigashima began as a sake producer during the Edo period and later expanded into shochu, whisky, wine, umeshu and mirin. The company received a whisky licence in 1919, although regular whisky production developed much later, with small copper pot stills introduced in the 1960s and the modern White Oak whisky distillery established in 1984.