Ichiro’s Malt made from the Chichibu No. 2 distillery, which is finally being released.The difference between Chichibu No.1 and Ichiro’s Malt is explained.
Although Chichibu No. 2 Distillery’s original whisky has been bottled at previous Chichibu Whisky Festivals and other events, this is the first time it has been released to the general public in Japan.
How does it taste?
１．Ichiro’s Malt CHICHIBU DISTILLERY Ⅱ
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1-1．Product Information
A new history born in Chichibu, surrounded by deep mountains in northwestern Saitama Prefecture, has begun to mark its next step in 2019.
The original sake, created in harmony with tradition and innovation, change and inheritance, is characterized by a heavy taste and lustrous fruity aroma produced by direct distillation, which deepens its enjoyment over time.
This bourbon barrel-driven blend has an intense honeyed sweetness, deep fruitiness, and a long, smoky, malty finish that is impressive.This is the first single malt from the Chichibu No. 2 distillery.
Please take your time and enjoy this new step forward while thinking about the future.【Tasting Comment】
The nose is sweet vanilla overlaid with fruity notes of pineapple candy and pear, plus complex nuances of tortoiseshell candy.
The taste has depth, with the mild sweetness of honey, the richness of apple pie and custard cream, and the spice of cinnamon and nutmeg.
The lingering finish is smoky and long, accompanied by a thickness of barley.Citation: Manufacturer’s data
1-2．Product Specs
alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) 55% distinction by alcohol single malt whisky cask-type fail to understand quantity of content 700ml number of long thin objects fail to understand
２．Venture Whisky Corporation Chichibu Distillery
Chichibu Distillery started operation in 2008, and in just a few years has become the world’s leading whisky maker of “Ichiro’s Malt”.
Toa Shuzo, which was run by the founder Ichiro Akuto’s father, owned the Hanyu distillery and manufactured Whisky, but when Mr. Akuto took over in 2001, the business was in a slump, and it was transferred to Hinode Trading in 2003.At that time, the decision was made to withdraw from the Whisky business, and the stored Whisky was in danger of being disposed of.
We worked hard to find a buyer and succeeded in obtaining cooperation from the Sasanogawa Brewery and were able to move the Whisky stored at the Hanyu distillery by renting a storage room between the two distilleries.We then worked with the Sasanokawa Brewery to sell Whisky made from the Hanyu distillery’s original sake.
In 2004, Mr. Akuto established Venture Whisky Co., Ltd. and in 2007, he completed a Whisky distillery in Chichibu, his hometown and an ideal environment for sake brewing.
Chichibu Distillery produces single malt whisky rooted in the Chichibu climate.
Founder Ichiro Akuto takes pride in his Japanese whisky and produces malt whisky by hand with a small mill, mash tuns, Quercus crispula fermenters, and pot stills from Forsyth’s of Scotland.
The area surrounding the Chichibu distillery is rich in nature, with clean air and quality water, and a harsh environment with hot and humid summers and cold mornings and evenings that go below freezing.The difference in temperature between the two regions has a great influence on the maturation of the whisky, resulting in a fruity and well-balanced whisky despite the short maturation period.
In October 2019, the Chichibu 2nd distillery will be established and start operation in the vicinity of the Chichibu distillery.
The second distillery produces five times as much malt as the first distillery (2 tons of malt per distillation).The pot still is the same shape as the first distillery, but it is a much larger pot still in order to distill five times as much malt at a time.The distillery uses a direct gas-fired distiller made by Forsyth.
In April 2023, the company announced that it will build a new grain whisky distillery in the Rinku Kashiwabara district of the Tomakomai East region (Tomatoh), with a total investment of several billion yen starting on May 8, and is currently preparing to begin operations in spring 2025.
Ichiro Akuto, the president of the distillery, said that the new distillery is planned to be a grain whisky distillery, and while the main raw material will be North American corn at the beginning of operation, he plans to actively incorporate Hokkaido products while monitoring price trends.In the future, it is not difficult to imagine that they will produce a single grain whisky that is completely made in Japan, or a blended whisky that is badged with malt whisky from the Chichibu No. 1 and No. 2 distilleries.
As the operation of the new distillery stabilizes and the supply volume increases, we can expect further expansion of the Ichiro’s Malt brand lineup and an increase in the supply volume to the market.
We will continue to follow the progress toward the completion of the distillery and wait with anticipation for the birth of the new whisky that will eventually be produced.
４．Finally.
The production specifications are quite different from those of the first distillery, and the tasting notes are strikingly more expressive than ever before.
This product has many fruity, sweet and smoky elements, and we encourage you to try it when you see it.
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.
