Chichibu Ichiros Malt & Grain - Blended Whisky - Limited Edition 2020 (Japan)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The Limited Edition 2020 brings together exclusively Japanese malt and grain whiskies. Ichiro Akuto composes the blend using single malt from his Chichibu distillery alongside whiskies from the now-closed Hanyu and Kawasaki distilleries. This distinguishes the edition from the brand's international World Blended bottlings.

The whisky is bottled at a cask strength of 48.5%, without chill filtration or colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle bears a black label with a leaf motif and is presented in a wooden box. This edition carries no age statement.

At the World Whiskies Awards 2020, the edition won a category award in Blended Limited Release. Its powerful character combines sweet and fruity impressions with fresh mint, light peaty notes and a subtle sulphurous nuance.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose combines vanilla, honey, pear and coconut with delicate mint, a little grain and a hint of smoke. Light notes of vineyard peach and dried apricot also emerge, nestled in butterscotch and soft vanilla cream. Subtle citrus peel and a nuance reminiscent of artificial banana flavouring complete the aromatic picture.
• Palate: On the palate, the whisky is creamy and delicately spicy, with toffee, dried fruit and kiwi. Intense caramel initially takes the lead, combining with barley malt, gingerbread, mango, papaya, passion fruit and a little freshly cut, dew-covered grass. Sweet forest honey, roasted chestnuts, malt and freshly ground black pepper develop as the palate unfolds. Finally, a trace of aromatic pipe tobacco remains.
• Finish: The medium-length finish is soft and balanced. Vanilla and pink pepper linger. Dried tropical fruit complements the vanilla in the medium-length finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Ichiro Akuto founded Venture Whisky in 2004 in Chichibu, in Japan's Saitama Prefecture. His starting point was the surviving whisky stocks from the former family business, for which he sought a future. The first bottlings under the Ichiro's Malt name reached the market in 2005. His own distillery was established in 2007 and received its production licence in 2008.

Akuto built his brand through close contact with bars: over two years, he visited around 2,000 establishments and gathered feedback from bartenders. The original Chichibu distillery is equipped with Japanese Mizunara oak washbacks and two copper pot stills made by Forsyths. These are used to produce Chichibu malts; malt and grain whiskies are married for the Limited Edition. Venture Whisky Ltd. produces and bottles the edition.

Facts: