Chichibu Distillery II (Ichiro’s Malt)

Chichibu Distillery II (Ichiro’s Malt)

Official bottling
Single malt - Kantō
Amber gold 
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, pears, fresh cut grass, white grapes, orange peel, barley sugar, nutmeg, mace. With water, pears, magic marker, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pears, orange peel, leather, barley sugar, malted grains, magic marker, ink, mace. With water, mace, pears, magic marker, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, orange peel, malted grains, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Lots of lovely balanced flavours, mainly spices, pears and a big leather note that is quite characteristic of Chichibu in my opinion. Water brings out some estery flavours with more of that leather. This is actually from their new production facility, but they’ve maintained their character well. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 15yo Final Vintage

Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 15yo Final Vintage

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden orange
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, walnuts, sea salt, Demerara sugar, peanuts, salt caramel, hints of caramelised onions. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, slightly volatile.
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Orange peel, salt caramel, walnut skins, Demerara sugar, lemon sweets, malted grains, maraschino cherries. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sweets, salt caramel, orange peel, Demerara sugar, walnut skins. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, sweet and slightly bitter. Utterly delicious, I never thought I would be able to have another Hanyu. Now tasting with the benefit of having drunk some Chichibu, I’m struck by how the latter is the heir to the former.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Chichibu London Edition 2024

Chichibu London Edition 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden bronze
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, cherry blossom, orange peel, lemon zest, vanilla, apricots, pears. With water, chocolate, vanilla, cream, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vanilla, malted grains, white grapes, lemon zest, cherry blossom, apricots, pears. With water, starfruit, vanilla, malted grains, cherry blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, lemon zest, white grapes, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Sweet, fruity and light, but layered and complex. Lots of different white fruits vie for dominance on the tongue. Water brings out more creaminess and maltiness, especially on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023

Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow gold
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, mangoes, kiwifruit, lemon zest, green apples, burnt sugar, hints of nutmeg. With water, ice cream soda, green apples, mangoes, mangoes, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Mangoes, malted grains, burnt sugar, green apples, vanilla, ice cream soda, passionfruit. With water, peaches, mangoes, green apples, cinder toffee. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, burnt sugar, apple juice, cinder toffee, hints of charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Cask 3090. Brilliant stuff, obviously spent some time in a plastic vessel, but for all that it’s still fruity and toffee’s, with a hint of crisp green apple and charcoal ash at the end to keep it interesting. Thank you Hopscotch Whisky Bar for this taste.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (bottled for Selfridges)

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (bottled for Selfridges)

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
62% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, orange peel, peat, peanuts, malted grains, hints of smoke. With water, lemon and lime, hints of baked apples.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, tannic. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Orange peel, coffee, ginseng, peanuts, smoke, hints of raisins. With water, lemon zest, white grapes, sweeter. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, walnut skins, smoke, peat. 

Comments: 

A magnificently smoky, peaty, bitter Chichibu. The high ABV makes it palate destroying, but in a good way. Lots of sweet notes underneath all that leather and smoke. This is a bit bonkers, but very enjoyable indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (bottled for the Whisky Exchange 20th Anniversary)

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (bottled for the Whisky Exchange 20th Anniversary)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cucumber, apricots, white grapes, ash, smoke, leather, peat. With water, white grapes, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, astringent, warm.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, cucumber, leather, chocolate, apples, smoke. With water, cream, apples, apricots.
Finish: Long. Chocolate, apricots, smoke, apples. 

Comments: 

Cask 2089. A smoky peaty Chichibu, one that has classic fruity flavours, but which is also infused with slightly bitter malty, chocolate notes. If you gave this me to this blind, I would say it was a young, slightly underpeated Ardbeg. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Orange gold
60.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, malted grains, stewed apricots, cinnamon, leather, hints of sulphur. With water, honey, white chocolate, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, stewed apricots, green tea, leather, pecans, hints of sulphur. With water, cinnamon, apricot jam, tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, white grapes, cinnamon, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 2279, a white Bordeaux wine. The resulting whisky is jammy, chockful of apricots, nuts and leather. There's a little sulphur lurking around the edges. With water, it opens up, turning chocolatey and warm, like a gentle hug. This is magnificent, I'm a little sorry I missed getting a full bottle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 2011/2018 Cask 3537

Chichibu 2011/2018 Cask 3537

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark copper
59.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tobacco leaf, raisins, damson jam, bubble gum, orange peel, hints of dried pears. With water, rolled oats, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, rolled oats, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, sea salt, brown butter. With water, bubble gum, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, dark chocolate, brown butter, vanilla liqueur. 

Comments: 

A sister cask to the one I tried at the Whisky Show, this dram is uplifting, complex and slightly saline. Water opens it up magnificently, bringing fruit, some grassy, herbal notes, and even some tutti frutti bubble gum.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 11/18 Red Wine Finish for Sexy Fish

Chichibu 11/18 Red Wine Finish for Sexy Fish

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
60.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, malted grains, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, Japanese ume, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, slightly watery, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, malted grains, fresh baked bread, raisins, red grapes, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, brown paper, Japanese ume, fresh baked bread, hints of toast. 

Comments: 

Cask 5253. This is really good stuff, plenty of cereal and red grapes, plus a few very Japanese notes of ume and sandalwood. Absolutely delicious, despite not much red wine influence, and despite the whisky's youth. Chichibu is rarely disappointing. That reminds me - one of these days, I must get over to Sexy Fish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu the Peated 2018 10th Anniversary

Chichibu the Peated 2018 10th Anniversary

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, leather, raisins, honey, marmalade, dried pears, applesauce, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, volatile, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanuts, peat, dried apples, honey, cinnamon, white pepper, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, leather, cinnamon, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Fruity, leathery and smoky, this Chichibu dram is highly complex despite its young age. There's a layer of herbal savouriness, with plenty of spice, white and even pink peppercorns. I love this, it's really impressive whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu London Edition 2018

Chichibu London Edition 2018

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold 
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: malted grains, lemon zest, baked apples, sandalwood, pine, hints of blackcurrants. With water, apple juice, white grapes, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, apple juice, pine, sandalwood, hints of cinnamon. With water, white grapes, raisins, gooseberries. 
Finish: Long. Walnuts, cinnamon, raisins, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Fruity and woody, even herbaceous. Very strong, and water brings out some of the more delicate fruity notes. I found this to be very good whisky, but definitely under aged.

Verdict:

I like this.

Chichibu IPA Cask Finish 2017

Chichibu IPA Cask Finish 2017

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, malted grains, rhubarb and custard sweets, vanilla, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, vanilla, jujubes, ginseng. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, orange peel, vanilla, hints of malted grains. 

Comments: 

This is bold and brassy, and the IPA cask finish adds more than a tinge of bitterness. It mellows out the sweetness on the tongue to something more herbal, and there's loads of ginseng and cereally notes on the finish. Good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hanyu 2000 cask #919

Hanyu 2000 cask #919

For Zuma / Roka, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - East Honshu
Chinese tea
57.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, chocolate, honey, tobacco leaf, brown paper, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Chocolate, honey, raisins, smoke, leather, orange peel, hints of red grapes. 
Finish: Long. Honey, chocolate, smoke, hints of red grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask #919, about 15 years old. This is a special bottling for Zuma Bar and the Roka chain of restaurants. It's delicious. No need for water, this is full of honey and chocolate notes, with an alluring veil of smoke. Very very nice, plenty of red grapes as well. Incredible whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu Chibidaru 3yo 2009/2013

Chichibu Chibidaru  3yo 2009/2013

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Orange gold
53.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange blossom, vanilla, Chinese sour plums, lemon zest, jasmine, hints of roses. With water, slightly sweeter, yoghurt drink, more Chinese sour plums, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns airy, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting: Sour salty. Orange blossom, Chinese sour plums, chrysanthemums, apricot jam, hints of tamarind. With water, slightly sweeter, more apricot jam, hints of oolong tea. 
Finish: Long. Roses, tamarind, chrysanthemums, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Wonderfully fresh, floral and fragrant. This malt is salty, sour and sweet all at the same time, like those mouth-puckering preserved sour plums one gets in Chinese supermarkets. With water, I was hit by waves of Calpico yoghurt drink (again, perhaps suggestibility at work), and also oolong tea. Also quite jammy in places.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kawasaki 31 yo 1982/2011 for WhiskyLive Tokyo

Kawasaki 31 yo 1982/2011 for WhiskyLive Tokyo

Official bottling
Single grain - East Honshu
Dark red wine
65.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, mint, eucalyptus, brown paper, plums, magic marker. With water, butter, blueberries, strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, plums, blueberries, sugar cane juice, hints of leather, hints of pear drops. With water, slightly bitter, butter, maple syrup, rum, vanilla.
Finish: Long. Eucalyptus, mint, sugar cane juice, plums.

Comments:

The angels left a lot of this, and I can't for the life of me imagine why. This is one of the best grain whiskies, if not the best grain whisky I've ever tasted. It is sweet and heavy on the tongue, with plenty of fruit and a fresh note of mint cutting through. With water it turns buttery and syrupy, with a finish that lasted for at least 18 hours. I could still taste it the next morning. After breakfast.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ichiro's Malt The Joker Colour Label

Ichiro's Malt The Joker Colour Label

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber, tinge of red
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Prunes, dates, pink pepper, orange peel, cola nuts, dried apricots. With water, orange zest, orange juice, strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, chewy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Dates, prunes, pine, dried apricots, hints of butterscotch, hints of lemon thyme. With water, sweeter, red grapes, orange zest, strawberries.
Finish: Long. Cola nuts, dates, prunes, dried apricots. With water, red grapes, hints of leather.

Comments:

A vatting of 6 Hanyu vintages (ranging from 1985-2000) from 7 types of cask. It's a legendary bottling, if only because it sold out so fast. I'm lucky to be able to taste this. It's awesome! Fruity and spicy, excellent mouthfeel neat, really drinkable. With a touch of water, it opens up beautifully, lots of dried fruit, sweeter, fragrant, some old leather at the finish. I'm still tasting this hours later.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ichiro's Malt Four of Diamonds (Hanyu 11 yo 2000/2011)

Ichiro's Malt Four of Diamonds (Hanyu 11 yo 2000/2011)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
56.9% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, old leather, red wine, brown paper, sandalwood, red grapes. With water, more raisins, cookie dough, vanilla, dried apricots.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, chewy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, red grapes, red wine, old leather, carrot cake, brown paper, hints of mint. With water, sweeter, vanilla, cookie dough.
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, red grapes, raisins, hints of carrot cake.

Comments:

Whisky of high strength, aged in sweet wine casks, a style that I like very much. This one is fruity and fragrant, perhaps a tad sulphuric undiluted. But with water, it opens up and turns more complex, with strong notes of cinnamon and spice.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 3 yo 2009/2012 Floor Malted

Chichibu 3 yo 2009/2012 Floor Malted

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, coffee, mint, milk, plums, rhubarb compote, hints of seaweed. With water, smoked ham, hints of cedar wood.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, slippery, airy.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Milk chocolate, coffee, seaweed, plums, rhubarb compote, apples, hints of brown paper. With water, slightly sweeter, saltier, more coffee, smoked ham.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, milk chocolate, seaweed, apples.

Comments:

Needs a bit of water to open up, but possesses a depth of flavour that belies its young age. Fruity, slightly salty, yet no hint of peat or leather. A very interesting, unusual whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hanyu 2000/2012 Whisky Talk

Hanyu 2000/2012 Whisky Talk

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden
60.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, vanilla, malted grains, plums, dark chocolate, hints of hay. With water, hay, mint, more chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, static, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, hay, plums, malted grains, coffee, milk, hints of cola nuts. With water, hay, mint, hints of salt caramel.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, milk, dark chocolate, hay.

Comments:

Dark, rich and chocolatey, almost like a good stout. Even the mouthfeel fits. I really enjoyed this, and with water, even more. Can't be many of these Hanyus left in the world, better try them before they go.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kawasaki 33 yo 1976/2009

Kawasaki 33 yo 1976/2009

Ichiro's Choice, Number One Drinks Co
Single grain - East Honshu
Amber, tinge of red
65.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, pears, magic marker, vanilla, lemon zest, honey, red grapes. With water, pears disappear, lots of magic marker, bananas.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, turns slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Oranges, magic marker, lemon zest, honey, red grapes, dried cranberries, hints of pears. With water, sweeter, lots of magic marker, hints of oats.
Finish: Short. Oranges, lemon zest, pears, dried cranberries.

Comments:

Wow! Like a punch in the mouth, incredibly fruity and spicy. The sherry cask complements the spice of the grain whisky really well. With water, it opens up, tastes slightly chemical, like pear drop sweets. Very, very tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.