Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve is one of the most distinctive Japanese blended malt whiskies, uniting history and innovation. Its creator, Ichiro Akuto, founded the Chichibu Distillery in 2004, continuing the family tradition that began with the historic Hanyu Distillery.
When Hanyu closed permanently in 2000, Ichiro secured the remaining casks and transferred them to Chichibu. This inspired the idea of combining the two spirits—the mature and rare Hanyu with the youthful and dynamic Chichibu. The result is a blended malt finished in wine casks, imparting aromas of red fruits and added complexity.
In the early releases, the proportion of Hanyu was higher, making those batches particularly collectible. Today, as Hanyu stocks diminish, Chichibu has taken the leading role, offering freshness and depth through careful aging and experimentation with different woods.
It presents rich aromas of ripe cherries and plums, notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon, and spice, framed by hints of vanilla. On the palate, the flavor is full and balanced, with sweet notes of raisins and honey combined with spicy touches of cinnamon and pepper, while the finish leaves a long impression of wine and wood, adding depth and complexity.
70cl – 46.5% vol.
