Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve

Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve s a Japanese malt whisky from two distilleries. The Ichiro’s Malt series is named after Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of the founder of the Hanyu distillery that was demolished in 2004. After the demolishing Ichro saved about 400 casks. In 2008 he started his own distillery, Chichibu, and this Wine Wood release is a vatted malt of both distilleries.

This Wine Wood Reserve is a combination of old Hanyu and young Chichibu finished in French wine casks. Bottled at Chichibu at 46% ABV, non chill filtered and with no added colour.

Nose: lots of red wine with spices, nuts, marzipan, liquorice, star anise and pepper

Palate: hot and spicy with a pleasant sweetness, notes of dried figs, red berries, grape peels and wine combined with milk chocolate and cocoa

Finish: pepper, red wine, tannins, dark chocolate, berries and a hint of smoke