Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The US 2018 Edition

Ichiro Akuto founded Chichibu Distillery in 2008. The Akuto family have been producing alcohol in Saitama for over 300 years. Ichiro’s grandfather started making whisky in the 1940‚ soon after World War II, at the Hanyu Distillery. The slowdown of Japan’s economy in the 1990’s ultimately lead to the closing of Hanyu Distillery in 2000. Determined to keep his family’s alcohol legacy alive, Ichiro opened Chichibu Distillery in 2008. At Chichibu, Ichiro embraces the heritage and heart of Scotish whisky making, balanced by the precision and skill of the Japanese Shokunin tradition.

This is the first edition of an Ichiro single malt blended specifically for the US market. It consists of four ex-bourbon barrels and one hogshead with Mizunara oak heads. All whisky in this single malt ranges from five to six years of age. Ichiro’s distillery is currently in its tenth year of operation and has recently increased capacity, although remaining very small. We look forward to more US only editions. This inaugural release is 1,235 bottles.