The Japanese distillery White Oak was established in 1888 but it has been producing whisky in a traditional way and in small quantities only since 1919. The actual distillation process began in 1984, the year the company built a new plant. Before that time, all the whisky produced was used in a variety of blends known as "White Oak". The distillery belongs to the Eigashima company, established in 1679 and one of the most ancient sake producers in Japan, in the city of Akashi.