Whisky Focus - Chichibu The First Released

Chichibu The First is the first whisky to be released from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu distillery, Japans newest distillery.

Ichiro Akuto, the 21st generation of his family in the drinks industry, began the nine-month construction of Chichibu distillery in spring 2007. Distilling licences were granted and production began in February 2008. It is the first distillery built in Japan since Hakushu in the 1970s. Ichiro released a few single casks as Chichibu Newborn to allow whisky enthusiasts to chart the development of the spirit.

Chichibu The First is a limited edition of 7,400 bottles, 50% of which have been reserved for the domestic market with the remainder being shipped to key export markets. The release is a vatting of 31 fresh bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill bottled at 61.8% ABV.

Chichibu The First was launched in the VIP area of Whisky Live Paris on Saturday 24th September 2011 with an introduction by Ichiro Akuto and tasting commentary by Dave Broom, who declared the whisky "a huge hit." He alluded to the fragrant and floral nose of the whisky which has notes of soft fruit and lemongrass. Broom also referred to the vanilla undertones from the bourbon barrels and the hint of coconut cream which emerges with the addition of water. The notes of lemongrass and coconut cream combine to give the impression of a green Thai curry. Chichibu The First has an excellent mouth-filling texture.

Ichiro Akuto introduced his latest whisky at the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival on the 29th September and it was also a hit at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show in London on the 7th & 8th October 2011. Ichiro Akuto returned to Japan for the domestic launch of Chichibu The First on the 10th October.

Marcin Miller, Managing Director (Europe) of Number One Drinks, observes: "As well as the release of Chichibu 'The First' and the on-going bottling of the Vintage Series single casks from Karuizawa, we are looking to release an 11-year-old single malt at 46% from Karuizawa. These are exciting times for fans of Japanese single malt whisky."

Chichibu The First Ichiro's Malt is exclusively available in the UK at The Whisky Exchange at £89.95

If you have a taste for Japanese single malt whiskies then The Whisky Exchange have also recently taken stock of a sensational Karuizawa which has got itself the reputation of being Japans finest whisky distillery. The Karuizawa 1981 is a fantastic cask strength dram which has been fully matured in a first fill sherry cask. Karuizawa 1981 First Fill Sherry Cask #6256 57.5% ABV is limited to only 2 bottles per customer so don't hang around with this one as I doubt it will be available for long.
 

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