CHICHIBU - The First Ten - 50.50%
Ichiro’s Malt is an independent bottling company of exceptional Japanese whisky. Founded by master distiller Ichiro Akuto, it is located in a unique and intimate setting in Chichibu, a small town about 100 km northwest of Tokyo. Starting with only two artisanal stills, this house embodies the authentic art of distillation. Akuto's expertise was passed down through a centuries-old family tradition: his great-grandfather was a renowned maker and leader of a sake brewery, the Hanyu distillery, founded in 1625. It obtained the official whisky distiller license in 1941, paving the way for a long lineage of passion and excellence. Ichiro's father continued this mission, investing in two stills imported from Scotland capable of producing about 400 barrels. In 2000, marked by a major economic crisis and a decline in sake consumption in Japan, the family was forced to sell the business. However, Ichiro Akuto saw this challenge as a unique opportunity: he recovered the precious stills as well as the maturing barrels from the new brewery owners.
Today, Ichiro Akuto passionately and innovatively continues the ancestral techniques established at the Hanyu distillery, ranking among the most visionary and ambitious Japanese distillers. Currently, about 4,000 barrels, including Sherry, wine, and Bourbon casks, mature under his meticulous supervision. Furthermore, he is engaged in pioneering experiments cultivating local barley to create a pure whisky deeply rooted in the Japanese terroir.
Chichibu The First Ten is the distillery's first ten-year-old expression. This masterpiece is a carefully selected blend of 26 barrels, all matured in first-fill Bourbon casks, Mizunara casks—the iconic Japanese oak—and Sherry casks that bring complexity and depth.
Non-Peated Whisky
Purchase limited to 1 bottle per customer
Discover this exclusive rarity at Clos des Spiritueux, your reference for exceptional Japanese whiskies.
