Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve

Japanese whisky tasting evening, Sydney 28 March 18, Whisky #6. Nose: Berry scented bubblegum or gummy sweets (or jelly babies). A soft licorice aroma that morphs into a charred smoky note. Palate: Soft and richly elegant arrival, red fruits, orchard fruits, sweet mulled red wine, berries, hazelnuts and almonds, a slight coconut note. Milk chocolate and some well-handled and subtle oak tannins. Finish: Medium/long. Sweet grains and berries. A touch of mild anise, nutmeg and allspice. The nose on this is instantly attention grabbing – but in a good way? I’m not sure. It is intensely berry-driven to the point of almost being a parody of a wine-finish nose. It’s so overwhelming I nearly laughed out loud at the first sniff. The palate was, for me, better than the nose. It’s more subtle and the sweet fruity flavors are balanced by nutty cocoa. It’s so confectionery it almost veers towards tasting like a bar of fruit and nut milk chocolate, but the slight oaky presence saves it from going too far and introduces a touch of spice just in time. Water just softens it but brings out nothing new. An interesting vatted whisky rather than a really good one. In comparison to the grain and blended whiskies we had tasted previously in the evening it was clearly a superior dram, but then they brought out the Yamazaki 12 and it was immediately eclipsed. I’d still recommend this as an experiment – it’s certainly worth a taste - but I wouldn’t buy a bottle as it is quite expensive. It costs the same as Yamazaki 12, but it is nowhere near as good. A hard one to rate. It’s right on the border between "good" and "very good". "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

This certainly has a unique character. It reminds me of scorched rose water (perhaps due to tasting it following a Caol Ila Sassicaia wood dram). It's somewhat akin to what I'd expect from rose wine blended with a pot still spirit. While I initially felt I wouldn't purchase a bottle, I'm now considering it. It stood out as my preferred choice for the evening because it was so distinct. The finish has a touch of ethanol, but it's still enjoyable. Notably, it contains malt produced at the Hanyu distillery, which is no longer operational. I'm eager to explore more from Chichibu.

A well-rounded, Combined Japanese Pure Malt Spirit from Honshu – Saitama, Japan; featuring spirits from the defunct Hanyu distillery; aged, then finished in French wine casks. Vatted & bottled at the Chichibu distillery. It presents a rich beginning with hints of oak, grain spice, dark chocolate, orange, black licorice & smooth malt; while its progression brings notes of red berry sweetness, oily walnut & white pepper; culminating in a lengthy & balanced conclusion with notes of Sherried spice & a trace of chocolate, vanilla, honey & nut. June 2018 / March 2019 / August 2022

Nose is overwhelmingly rosy. Something else, I can't quite place it, lightly masks the rose Very thin syrup mouthfeel, more like an americano than an espresso Sweet initially, with salty notes underneath. Buttery overall. Rose clotted cream might be an apt description. Incredibly smooth, with no alcohol sting at all.

Excellent spirit with notes of berries, cherries, raspberries, wood, spices, chocolate, and a hint of toffee. It's a standout in the Ichiro's Malt Pure Malt leaf series.

This is my first serious attempt at tasting whisky. I might have detected some fruitiness.