Chichibu Hanyu Ichiro's Malt 2017 IPA Cask Finish 63506700

Chichibu Hanyu Ichiro's Malt 2017 IPA Cask Finish [#6350/6700], Single Malt Whisky, Japan, 70cl

NOSE: Cascade & Citra hops. Delicate and velvety aroma of apples and caramel. It expresses complex notes of pineapple, green papaya, melon, orange, pear, honey and lemon

PALATE: Topical fruits, roasted pineapple and juicy guava, then zesty orange. Citrus, both from the hops and the zest of peels and rinds, balanced by a creamy vanilla maltiness and a distinct earthy mushroom and forest undergrowth. Floral notes of pine and lavender. Water adds stone fruits, ripe peach and soft apricot alongside a delicate chalkiness.

FINISH: Long and hoppy. Notes of pepper and ginger spices and lots of tart citrus.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"An IPA finish? That sounds pretty WTF if you ask me (which means Where’s The Funnel, naturally). Were IPA casks ‘traditional’ at some point? Now it’s true that we aren’t in Scotland, are we… And Glenfiddich did it as well. Colour: gold. Nose: LOL. Rose petals, citric hops (citra), kiwis and litchis, pink grapefruits, ylang-ylang, and really, perfume for wealthy older ladies. It’s extremely singular. With water: wha-a-at? Huge musk, really. It’s extremely musky. Perhaps some pecan pie, and that red thing they make in Lyons, tarte aux pralines. Google is your friend - just hope they would pay their taxes. Mouth (neat): really, it’s marc de gewurztraminer, blended with small-berry white muscat wine. Why not, I agree… With water: totally LOL, and totally on muscat wine. Would love to hear about the kind of hops they’ve used to flavour that IPA. Finish: long, very fruity, really not bad, just extremely sweet – and yet not sugary at all. Comments: just call this an experiment and I’ll be happy. Not quite whisky, and not sure you needed whisky to come up with such a spirit, but well, I suppose it’s still better than the tequila-ed Scotches to come…. I’m asking you, what's the world coming to? Nah, it’s Chichibu, so it’s well crafted, at the very least."

WHISKY FUN, 2019

A limited-edition Chichibu, developed in conjunction with a Japanese craft brewer. The brewery aged their beers in casks from the distillery and then returned these ‘beer-washed’ barrels to Chichibu, where they were filled with whisky for a period of extra maturation.

Bottled at cask strength 57.5% ABV in 2017. Bottle #6350 of 6700 produced.

This is part of a private customer’s collection. These whiskies are in excellent condition. We are acting as an agent in the sale and the price is exclusive of V.A.T. which is not due.