The Ichiro’s Malt “Blended Japanese Whisky Limited Edition”series uses Chichibu distillery’s long-matured original sake and the ultra-rare Hanyu and Kawasaki distilleries’ original sake. World Whisky Awards It is a gem that has won the world’s highest award several times in the past at the
The “Limited Edition 2022” is the same as the “Limited Edition 2021”. Limited edition of 500 bottles The product is available at A well-balanced blend of malt from the long-aged Chichibu distillery, malt base sake from the Hanyu distillery, and grain base sake from the Kawasaki distillery. The gift box is also a special feature of 2022. Made of Quercus crispula.
1. Manufacturer
Venture Whisky Co.
| Established | 2004 |
| Head office location | 49 Midorigaoka, Chichibu-shi, Saitama 368-0067 |
| Distilleries owned | Chichibu Distillery, Chichibu No.2 Distillery |
2. Distillery
It is a blend of only the malt base alcohol from the Chichibu and Hanyu distilleries and the grain base alcohol from the Kawasaki distillery that once existed.
Venture Whisky Chichibu Distillery
| Location | 49 Midorigaoka, Chichibu-shi, Saitama 368-0067 |
| Start of operation | 2007 |
The single malt whisky production is rooted in the Chichibu climate.
The founder, Mr. Ichiro Akuto, takes pride in the fact that his malt whisky is Japanese whisky, and produces it by hand with a small mill, mash tun, oak fermenter, and pot stills made by Forsyth of Scotland.
The Chichibu distillery is surrounded by rich nature, clean air, good quality water, hot and humid summers, and cold mornings and evenings below freezing. The difference in temperature between the cold and hot in this harsh climate has a great influence on the maturation of the whisky, resulting in a fruity and well-balanced whisky despite the short maturation period.
Established in September 2004.
Chichibu distillery was completed in 2007.
In February 2008, a license to make whisky was issued and whisky production began at the Chichibu distillery.
In October 2019, the second distillery begins operations.
This distillery was established after Suntory Hakushu distillery and Kirin Fuji Gotemba distillery, which were established in 1973. The distillery was established at the end of the whisky slump. First distillery established in Japan in 35 years The company’s name was changed to “K” in 1976.
Annual whisky production is just two days of the Glenlivet distillery in Scotland.
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The second distillery, which has been in operation since the fall of 2019, produces a whopping 5x The pot still is the same straight shape but much larger so that it can distill five times as much malt at a time. The pot still is made by Forsyth & Co. Gas direct-fired distillation machine The company uses
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For more information about Chichibu Distillery, please see also ↓ here.
https://jpwhisky.net/japanesedistillery-1447/#3-2″]
Hanyu Distillery
| Location | 4-1-11 Nishi, Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Start of operation | 1946 – October 2004 (in operation until 2000) |
In 1946, Toa Shuzo was founded as Akuto Shuzo Honke in what is now Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.
Began sake production.
In 1941, the company was established in Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture.
1946 Obtains license to produce whisky.
1948 Begins production of “Golden Horse” whisky.
2000 Hanyu distillery ceased operation (production of whisky base alcohol was stopped)
The distillation stopped at the end of 2000, and the barrels being matured were handed over to Mr. Ichiro Akuto of Venture Whisky. The brand name “Ichiro’s Malt” was given to the Hanyu distillery by Mr. Akuto, who took over the distillery, and it became one of the barely available, though limited, original products from the closed distillery.
Kawasaki Distillery
| Location | 3-1 Suzuki-machi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa |
| Start of operation | 1935-2003 |
1934 Establishment of Showa Brewery Co.
1935 Kawasaki Plant begins operations
1942 Name changed to Showa Nosan Kako Co.
1947 Production of whisky begins at Kawasaki Plant Sun Luck Whisky sold.
At that time, the company did not yet manufacture original sake, so it purchased original sake and sold blended products.
1949 Name changed to Sanraku Brewery Co.
1958 Whisky production is increased Began production of malt whisky in bulk.
1962 Merged with Ocean Corporation to form Sanraku Ocean Corporation
1969 Kawasaki Plant begins producing grain whisky in bulk.
1980 Construction of grain whisky storage facility at Kawasaki plant
1985 Company name changed to Sanraku Co.
1990 Company name changed to Mercian Corporation
2003 Production function of the Kawasaki plant was terminated. The plant is closed.
2007 Became an operating company of Kirin Holdings and became the Kirin Group
Currently, Venture Whisky’s Chichibu distillery in Saitama Prefecture stores the original Kawasaki factory whisky from those days. 2009 saw the release of the single grain Kawasaki “1982 Kawasaki” “1981 Kawasaki,” and “1976 Kawasaki,” whiskys made from the original distilled at the Kawasaki factory during the Sanrak Ocean era.
It is unknown how much of the original whisky remains today.
3. Product name and photo
Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky Limited Edition 2022
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4. Features
It is a blend of only the malt base alcohol from the Chichibu and Hanyu distilleries and the grain base alcohol from the Kawasaki distillery that once existed.
The Chichibu distillery, established in 2008, malt whisky from the former Hanyu distillery, and grain whisky from the distillery in Kawasaki, which was made from corn about 40 years ago, are used, each with their own unique characteristics. The distillery also uses bourbon and sherry casks for maturation.
Chichibu Distillery, which began production in 2008, matures its whisky in traditional dunnage-style cellars. From among them, the original whisky that shows its strength in blending is used as the key malt, and only the unique domestic whis key matured in Chichibu is blended in a well-balanced manner and bottled in a non-chill filtered, natural color.
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Complex aroma with multiple base liquors. Oaky, peaty, dried fruit, and honeyed sweet aromas rush together. |
| Taste | Woody but smooth drinking. Spicy, herbal and spicy. Oak flavor with a sense of maturity. Sweetness like molasses and vanilla. Sourness and bittersweetness come through later. |
| Aftertaste | Mild ripeness and oaky aroma lingers for a long time. Woodiness and sweetness with a hint of oak. The spiciness gives way to a coolness reminiscent of herbs and young leaves. |
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 48% |
| By Liquor | Blended Japanese Whisky |
| Cask type | Bourbon casks, sherry casks, etc. |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited to 500 bottles |
| Suggested Retail Price | 198,000 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | April 2022 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time. (As of April 8, 2022)
6. Price
6-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky Limited Edition 2022 |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 198,000 yen (including tax) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
There does not appear to be any listings on Mercari at this time. (*As of April 12, 2022)
6-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
The winning bid on Yahoo! Auctions was Lowest 300,999 yen Highest 341,000 yen Average 324,625 yen (*Statistics for the past 180 days from April 12, 2022)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
The mail order site showed past listings of Japanese Blended Limited Editions.
respectively. 531,837 yen for the 2021 edition and 438,880 yen for the 2019 edition. The number of bottles is as follows. (*As of April 12, 2022)
6-5.Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At BAR Shinkai, which is operated by this website, we have 1 Cup, 45 ml: 66,000 yen 30ml: 44,000 yen, 15ml: 22,000 yen We also offer small quantities such as
7. Summary
This is a bottle with a solid sense of maturity. It can be enjoyed straight, twisted up, on the rocks, or with soda…however you like to drink it.
We hear that there are not many bottles left from the Hanyu and Kawasaki distilleries, so we are happy that this limited edition will be available again in 2022, but we are not sure if it will be available next year or the year after that.
Although the bottle is extremely rare and limited to 500 bottles, it is available at all BAR Shinkai locations. We hope you will try the blend of Chichibu, Hanyu, and Kawasaki sake, which have crossed the boundaries of time and met in the modern age.
Please also check out our article on “Japanese Blended whisky Limited Edition 2021” from last year. [clink url=https://en.jpwhisky.net/2021/04/26/ichiros-maltgrain-japanese-blended-whisky-limited-edition-2021-2/]
Please take a look at our other articles on Ichiro’s Malt.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
