Ichiro's Malt - Mizunara Wood Reserve. (MDR) 200ml.

Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

Condition: New. Collector.
Fill level: New. In the neck.
Whisky still produced: Yes.
Category: Blended Malt Whisky.
Distillery: Chichibu Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Bottling series: Mizunara Wood Reserve.
Bottling Year: Not specified.
Stated Age: No Age Statement.
Cask type: Mizunara Oak.
Strength: 46.5% Vol.
Size: 700 ml.
Colouring: No.
Chill-filtered: No.
Bottle code: None.
Country of Origin: Japan.
Market: Worldwide.

Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve is a blended malt whisky from the Chichibu Distillery, renowned for its innovative use of Mizunara oak casks. This expression showcases the unique characteristics imparted by Japanese oak, offering a distinctive profile in the world of whisky.

Tasting Notes:

• Appearance/Colour: Deep gold with amber reflections.

• Nose: Aromas of fresh vanilla, cinnamon, spices, dried fruits, and a hint of coconut from the Mizunara oak.

• Palate: Full-bodied and complex with notes of fresh apricots, spiced nuts, caramel, and spiced wood notes that blend harmoniously together.

• Finish: Long-lasting, warm, and soft with a woody depth accompanied by coconut and oriental spices.

Distillery History:

The Chichibu Distillery, founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto, is one of Japan's most exciting and innovative whisky producers, located in the small town of Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. Ichiro Akuto comes from a prestigious whisky family—he is the grandson of the founder of the now-defunct Hanyu Distillery, which was known for its high-quality single malts until its closure in 2000.

After the closure of Hanyu, Ichiro Akuto pursued his vision of reviving the family legacy and establishing a new distillery dedicated to traditional craftsmanship and innovation. Chichibu quickly gained recognition for its meticulous production methods, including small-batch distillation, the use of locally sourced barley, and the adoption of traditional pot stills.

One of the distillery's signature features is the extensive use of Mizunara oak casks, a rare and highly prized Japanese oak species known for imparting distinctive spicy, incense-like, and coconut notes to the whisky. This choice reflects Ichiro’s passion for combining traditional Scotch whisky techniques with uniquely Japanese elements, giving Chichibu whiskies their distinctive character.

Despite its relatively recent establishment, Chichibu has rapidly earned international acclaim and awards, becoming a symbol of the new wave of Japanese whisky craftsmanship. The distillery balances tradition and innovation, producing whiskies with depth, complexity, and a distinct sense of place rooted in the natural environment of Chichibu.

Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve exemplifies this philosophy by blending whiskies matured partly in Mizunara oak, resulting in a rich and complex profile that continues to attract whisky enthusiasts worldwide.

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