Japan
Ichiro's Single Malt Whisky "The US Edition" 2020
Located in the city of Chichibu in Saitama, Japan, just two hours west of Tokyo, Chichibu Distillery produces some of Japan’s most coveted whiskies. Master Distiller Ichiro Akuto descends from a long lineage of distillers and brewers—his family has been producing sake for over 300 years. In 1945, his grandfather established the Hanyu Distillery and began distilling malt whisky that took off with the Japanese economic boom of the 1980s. However, when the bubble burst in the 1990s, so too did the first Japanese whisky boom, leading Hanyu—like several other distilleries—to shutter its doors.
While the distillery was sold off, Ichiro saved his grandfather’s old inventory and subsequently released the Playing Card series. This collection, which debuted to a slow start in the early 2000s, is now considered unicorn whisky, the stuff of legend. With the success of the playing cards, Ichiro saw that the Japanese whisky revival was imminent and in 2008, built his current distillery in Chichibu. He has since established himself as one of the great whisky producers of the world.
Distillation takes place in Forsyth copper pot stills, and the heads and tails are cut by nose and taste rather than timers or automated machinery. Chichibu Distillery is the only distillery in the world to use 100% Mizunara Japanese oak washbacks for fermentation which aid in creating the distinctly fruity style of whisky for which Ichiro is known. Additionally, the distillery has its own cooperage and floor malting facility on site. Whisky aging and maturation take place in several traditional, dunnage style warehouses using a wide variety of casks. All of this contributes to the illustrious status of this small yet impactful distillery.
Today, Chichibu represents the gold standard for Japanese whisky excellence and innovation. Akuto Ichiro is an icon of the whisky world—a 21st century whisky maker who embraces the heritage and heart of the Scots while artfully executing the Japanese shokunin (artisan) philosophy.
“Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The US Edition 2020 is a peated single malt from the Japanese distillery Chichibu. The third release in the Chichibu US Edition series matured in a combination of 10 casks: bourbon, ex-bourbon, ex-wine and ex-Chibidaru, before being bottled in 2020 at a cask strength of 55.5%. The Chichibu distillery was founded in 2007 by Ichiro Akuto, and started production the year after. Being the first new Japanese distillery since 1973, Chichibu started a new chapter in Japan’s whisky history. Only 2109 bottles of Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The US Edition 2020 have been released.”
While the distillery was sold off, Ichiro saved his grandfather’s old inventory and subsequently released the Playing Card series. This collection, which debuted to a slow start in the early 2000s, is now considered unicorn whisky, the stuff of legend. With the success of the playing cards, Ichiro saw that the Japanese whisky revival was imminent and in 2008, built his current distillery in Chichibu. He has since established himself as one of the great whisky producers of the world.
Distillation takes place in Forsyth copper pot stills, and the heads and tails are cut by nose and taste rather than timers or automated machinery. Chichibu Distillery is the only distillery in the world to use 100% Mizunara Japanese oak washbacks for fermentation which aid in creating the distinctly fruity style of whisky for which Ichiro is known. Additionally, the distillery has its own cooperage and floor malting facility on site. Whisky aging and maturation take place in several traditional, dunnage style warehouses using a wide variety of casks. All of this contributes to the illustrious status of this small yet impactful distillery.
Today, Chichibu represents the gold standard for Japanese whisky excellence and innovation. Akuto Ichiro is an icon of the whisky world—a 21st century whisky maker who embraces the heritage and heart of the Scots while artfully executing the Japanese shokunin (artisan) philosophy.
“Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The US Edition 2020 is a peated single malt from the Japanese distillery Chichibu. The third release in the Chichibu US Edition series matured in a combination of 10 casks: bourbon, ex-bourbon, ex-wine and ex-Chibidaru, before being bottled in 2020 at a cask strength of 55.5%. The Chichibu distillery was founded in 2007 by Ichiro Akuto, and started production the year after. Being the first new Japanese distillery since 1973, Chichibu started a new chapter in Japan’s whisky history. Only 2109 bottles of Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The US Edition 2020 have been released.”
Perman
Japan
Details
| Producer | Chichibu Distillery |