1-2. Product Specifications

Alcohol Content	53%
Type	Single Malt Whisky
Cask Type	Sherry casks, etc.
Content Capacity	700ml
Number of Bottles	Unknown

2. Venture Whisky Co., Ltd. Chichibu Distillery

The Chichibu Distillery, which began operations in 2008, became a globally renowned whisky producer under the “Ichiro’s Malt” brand in just a few short years.

“Toua Shuzo,” run by the father of founder Ichiro Akuto, owned the Hanyu Distillery and produced whisky. However, by the time Mr. Akuto took over in 2001, the company was struggling financially, and in 2003, its operations were transferred to “Hinode Trading.”At that time, a decision was made to withdraw from the whisky business, and the whisky in storage faced the risk of being discarded.

After a frantic search for a buyer, they successfully secured the cooperation of Sasanokawa Distillery and were able to move the whisky stored at the Hanyu Distillery to a warehouse they were renting. Subsequently, they began selling whisky made from the Hanyu Distillery’s raw spirits in collaboration with Sasanokawa Distillery.

Mr. Akuto established Venture Whisky Co., Ltd. in 2004, and in 2007, he completed a whisky distillery in Chichibu—his hometown and an environment well-suited for distilling.

At the Chichibu Distillery, single malt whisky is produced, rooted in the local climate and terroir of Chichibu.

Founder Ichiro Akuto takes pride in producing Japanese whisky and is committed to crafting malt whisky by hand using a small mill, mash tuns, Mizunara oak fermentation vats, and pot stills manufactured by Forsyth in Scotland.

The area surrounding the Chichibu Distillery is rich in nature, with clean air and high-quality water. It features a harsh climate characterized by high temperatures and humidity in the summer, and cold mornings and evenings that drop below freezing. The temperature fluctuations created by this harsh climate have a significant impact on the whisky’s maturation, resulting in a fruity and well-balanced whisky despite its short aging period.

In October 2019, the “Chichibu No. 2 Distillery” was established and began operations near the Chichibu Distillery.

The production capacity of the Second Distillery is a staggering five times that of the First Distillery. It can process 2 tons of malt in a single batch. The pot stills, while sharing the same straight-leg design as the First Distillery’s, are significantly larger to accommodate five times the distillation volume. They are manufactured by Forsyth and utilize direct-fired gas distillation.

This direct-fired method delivers a powerful character, producing a malty and fruity whisky.

In April 2023, the company announced plans to build a new grain whisky distillery in the Rinku-Kashiwabara district of the Tomakomai Eastern Region (Tomatou). As of 2026, operations have already begun.

CEO Ichiro Akuto has stated that the new distillery is planned as a grain whisky distillery. While North American corn will be the primary raw material at the start of operations, the company plans to actively incorporate Hokkaido-grown ingredients as well, depending on price trends.It is not difficult to imagine that in the future, the company will produce single grain whisky made entirely from domestic ingredients, as well as blended whisky created by blending it with malt whisky from the Chichibu No. 1 and No. 2 distilleries.

Once the new distillery’s operations stabilize and supply increases, we can expect further expansion of the Ichiro’s Malt brand lineup and increased market supply. The day when we can enjoy Ichiro’s Malt brand whiskiys more casually may not be far off.

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