CHICHIBU - 6 years old - Chichibu Single Sherry Hogshead 2nd fill Spanish Cask No. 6959 - Bottled in 2023 - 63.10% ABV
Ichiro’s Malt is a renowned independent bottler of high-quality Japanese whisky. Founded by master distiller Ichiro Akuto in an exceptionally modest workshop located in Chichibu, just 100 km northwest of Tokyo, the company produces artisanal whiskies using only two small stills. Ichiro Akuto's distillation training is deeply rooted in family tradition: his great-grandfather was originally a sake brewer who founded the Hanyu distillery in 1625, and later became a pioneer in obtaining a whisky distillation license in 1941. Akuto's father continued this passion by acquiring two Scottish stills capable of producing about 400 casks annually. Despite a major crisis in the early 2000s linked to Japan's economic decline and decreased sake consumption that forced the sale of the family business, Ichiro Akuto managed to turn this challenge into success: he recovered the stills as well as the whisky casks in maturation, ensuring the continuity of a unique expertise.
Today, Ichiro Akuto is one of the most innovative and respected Japanese distillers, perpetuating the ancestral techniques of Hanyu with exceptional ambition. Over 4,000 casks, mainly sherry, wine, and bourbon, are currently maturing under his supervision. Furthermore, he actively experiments with local barley cultivation, with the ultimate goal of creating an authentically Japanese whisky deeply rooted in its terroir.
This rare edition of Chichibu was distilled in 2016 and aged for 6 years in a single hogshead cask (#6959), second fill, which previously held Spanish sherry. This maturation gives the whisky an exceptional aromatic complexity, blending fruity richness with spicy notes. Only 289 bottles were produced, making it an exceptional product sought after by connoisseurs and collectors.
Discover this gem of Japanese distillation at Clos des Spiritueux, your specialist in rare and exclusive whiskies, for an incomparable tasting experience and an immersion into the subtle art of exceptional Japanese whisky.
