Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries

Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries is 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 Double Malt Distilleries release is a vatted malt of both distilleries. A sherried Hanyu and a young Chichibu matured in new Japanese oak casks. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Nose: sweet and rounded with notes of biscuits, honeysuckle and apple, lots of oak and vanilla and later also some notes of sandalwood

Palate: very spicy in the beginning with notes of nutmbeg, cinnamon and a hint of pepper, followed by notes of young malts

Finish: drying and slightly bitter with some mint, ginger and liquorice