Ichiro's Malt & Grain

A bold world whisky crafted by master Japanese distiller Ichiro Akuto, who runs the Chichibu distillery in Saitama Prefecture. This blend incorporates spirits from Canada, Scotland, Ireland, the USA, and some of Ichiro's own production. bottled at 46.5%, with no added color or chill-filtration! The nose offers a gentle sweetness, vaguely evoking Craigellachie. There's a brightness that seems fleeting. A layer of vanilla frosting bridges this subtle Japanese-style smoke. Banana and a robust malty character are present, along with cooked biscuits. The finish has oak-infused sweetness, and the grain asserts itself at the end, imparting a slight oiliness. The finish endures longer than anticipated. Adding a few drops of water enhances the toffee notes on the finish. It's quite delightful. Even at $110, I enjoy this and anticipate it will improve with age. I favor this over Hibiki Harmony, despite their different styles. I appreciate its complexity and its natural presentation (uncolored and non-chill filtered). I don't believe Harmony warrants $100; this one does. 91/100

Reviewing the limited edition. Nose: Very fruity (fresh apple juice, floral, dried peaches), then malty (oak and barley), with just a faint trace of cigar smoke appearing intermittently. Taste: Malt (plain cereal), mild sweetness (vanilla), moderate spice, and a subtle metallic/iodine note at the very end. A splash of water significantly enhanced the sweetness. The fruity notes detected on the nose make a brief appearance, followed by characteristic bourbon (caramel and vanilla) and toffee flavors. Finish: Warm spice (black pepper) accompanied by a prolonged bitter/metallic sensation. The fruitiness of the nose was highly enjoyable. The palate initially lacked the prominent fruity notes from the nose but improved greatly with added water. The finish was somewhat disappointing due to a lack of lingering palate flavors. The bitter/metallic taste at the finish was unpleasant.

An elegant, globally blended Japanese whisky from Ichiro Akuto for Hanyuin Distillery. It combines single malts and grain whiskies from various regions, married at the Chichibu Distillery. Its aromatic start features notes of peach, dried apricot, butterscotch, vanilla cream, citrus peel, artificial banana, lemon zest, granola, and rich malt. The balanced mid-palate offers toffee, barley malt, gingerbread, exotic fruits, sweet pipe tobacco, roasted chestnut, and fresh hay. It concludes with a medium-length spicy finish of vanilla, citrus peel, black pepper, and dried tropical fruits. December 2020 / August 2022 / January 2024

Sweet, fruity notes of strawberry and apple on the nose, with sugar and caramel in the middle. Delicate, but the heat increases on the fruity and sugary notes, with caramel, sugar, and honey. Light and easy to drink (marked down for lacking complexity). Long-lasting, oaky finish. This seems like a good option for women and a suitable addition to a Japanese whisky selection. Sweetness, creaminess, grape flavor, moderate heat, apple and pear notes, with a slight dryness. Sweet and creamy, candy-like sweetness, smooth and easy to drink. Oaky and slightly smoky at the end of the finish. Slight oaky and smoky finish.

A pleasant, smooth whiskey, though not exceptionally remarkable. It's quite impressive that the distiller managed to unite five whiskies from different countries into a cohesive blend. While a fine sipper, no single quality or flavor stands out prominently, although generally agreeable banana and tropical fruit notes are most noticeable.

My initial experience with Japanese malts was quite intriguing. It started rather smoothly with a mild warmth, not excessive at all. This sensation gradually subsides, revealing flavors that are hard to pinpoint, none of which truly dominate. Perhaps a faint touch of apple appears late in the experience… underwhelming.