Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ON THE WAY. Venture whisky, Chichibu ON THE WAY, price and how to buy.
1. What is Venture Whisky Co.
| Company Name | Venture Whisky Co. |
| Establishment | 2004 |
| Head office | 49 Midorigaoka, Chichibu-shi, Saitama 368-0067 |
| Owned distilleries | Chichibu Distillery, Chichibu No.2 Distillery |
2. What is Chichibu Distillery?
| Distillery name | Chichibu Distillery |
| Location of distillery | 49 Midorigaoka, Chichibu-shi, Saitama 368-0067 |
| Start of operation | 2007 |
Single malt whisky is produced in Chichibu.
The founder, Mr. Ichiro Hido, takes pride in the fact that the malt whisky is Japanese whisky, and produces it by hand with a small mill, mash tun, oak fermentation tanks, and pot stills made by Forsyths of Scotland.
The Chichibu Distillery is surrounded by rich nature, clean air, and high quality water. The summer is hot and humid, and the mornings and evenings are cold, even 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 operation.
This distillery was established after Suntory Hakushu Distillery and Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery, which were established in 1973. This is the first distillery to be established in Japan in 35 years, at the end of a period of stagnation in the whiskey industry.
The annual production of whisky is only two days that of the Glenlivet Distillery in Scotland.
The second distillery, which has been in operation since the fall of 2019, produces a whopping five times as much as the first distillery. The pot still is the same shape as the first distillery, but it is a much larger pot still so that it can distill five times as much malt at a time. The distiller is Forsyth and uses a direct gas-fired distiller.
For more information about Chichibu distillery, please see also here↓.
3. Photos of the bottles and the website where you can buy them
Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ON THE WAY 2024
Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ON THE WAY 2024
4. Features of Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ON THE WAY 2024
This single malt Japanese whisky is made exclusively from floor-malted malt, and has been produced by the distillery staff themselves at Maltster in the UK since its establishment in 2008.
The rich and mellow flavor of the malt and its softness, reminiscent of vanilla and honey, give us a nostalgic feeling, and the fruitiness, reminiscent of glossy plums and peaches, gently teaches us about the original sweetness of the malt.
It is bottled non-chill filtered and naturally colored to allow you to enjoy the original character of the whisky.
Please enjoy it while thinking about the many years the distillery has been around and the floor malting that continues to the present day.Citation: distillery handout
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Candy white peach, honey, pre-toasted bread, a little mint. |
| Taste | Rich fruit of peach and pear, soft sweetness like malt syrup, noticeable juiciness. |
| Aftertaste | Fruity aroma, acidity lingers long with sweetness |
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 54% |
| Distinction by alcohol | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Cask type | ー |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 12,000 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 22,000 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | July 20, 2024 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time.
6. List price and online price
6-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ON THE WAY |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 22,000 yen (including tax) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari are around 45,000 yen to 50,000 yen. (*As of July 23, 2024)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
Sold prices on Yahoo! Auctions have not been confirmed. Auctions currently range from a low of 35,000 yen to a high of 43,500 yen. (*As of July 23, 2024)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
We could not confirm any listings on mail order sites. Past titles are available for sale. (*As of July 23, 2024)
6-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer it in small quantities such as 45 ml per glass: 6,270 yen, 30 ml: 4,180 yen, and 15 ml: 2,090 yen.
7. Summary
“ON THE WAY” was previously released in 2013, 2015, and 2019. This is the first time in about 5 years, but this time all floor-malted malt is used, which is unprecedented for a Japanese product. The taste also expresses the softness and aroma typical of Chichibu, as well as the malt structure and sweetness of floor malting.
■Please take a look at our other articles on “Ichiro’s Malt”.
