{"product_id":"chichibu-ichiros-malt-grain-10th-anniversary-for-bar-peace-hanyu-karuizawa-single-sherry-cask-blend-11953-70cl","title":"Chichibu Ichiro's Malt \u0026 Grain 10th Anniversary For Bar Peace (Hanyu Karuizawa) Single Sherry Cask Blend #11953 Japanese Blended Malt Whisky (2018) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eChichibu Ichiro's Malt \u0026amp; Grain 10th Anniversary For Bar Peace (Hanyu Karuizawa) Single Sherry Cask Blend #11953 Japanese Blended Malt Whisky (2018) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 277 bottles produced. A very rare example of a Chichibu (albeit it contains Karuizawa and Hanyu also)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIchiro's Malt and Grain is a limited edition, blended by the king of independent Japanese distillers: Ichiro Akuto.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comprises whisky from his own stocks, including potentially Hanyu and Karuizawa, as well as his own Chichibu distillery, and possibly also some components distilled at other Japanese distilleries and from other countries. Everything was originally blended into one cask and now here we are with a very rare breed of whisky produced in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a blend from Ichiro Akuto, matured in single Oloroso sherry hogshead #11953. It was bottled in December 2023 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bar Peace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is uncertain when this was distilled although it has retained a lot of colour in the blend and Japan are not known for adding caramel colouring so this is not only a mystery, a rarity but also very little info exists on the taste of this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Chichibu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd., the distillery was established in 2007 and began production in 2008. It is one of three distilleries owned by Venture Whisky, whose principal brand is Ichiro's Malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVenture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto for the purpose of commercializing Ichiro's Malt, a whisky produced from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which had been owned by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd., the Akuto family's company, until its sale that year, as well as to eventually produce whisky at a distillery of its own. This plan later took shape as the Chichibu Distillery. Chichibu Distillery was the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government, and its success contributed to the revitalization of the Japanese whisky industry, leading to the establishment of new distilleries across the country\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2019, the Chichibu Daini Distillery began operations, located 600 meters from the original Chichibu Distillery. Its first single malt, Chichibu Distillery II, was released in 2025. The production capacity of the Daini Distillery is five times that of the original facility, and its pot stills employ direct firing instead of steam-based indirect heating, while its fermentation tanks are made of French oak rather than mizunara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA unique characteristic of Chichibu is the use of locally grown barley and the pure water from the surrounding mountains, which contribute to the exceptional quality of their whisky. The distillery combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches, including the use of a wide variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This results in complex and refined flavour profiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu whiskies are known for their rich and versatile character, with notes of vanilla, fruit, spice, and sometimes a subtle smokiness. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of Ichiro Akuto and his team are reflected in the international recognition and awards their whiskies have received.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2025, the Tomakomai Distillery is scheduled to begin operations in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. It will produce grain whisky using a Coffey still and will increase overall production by blending it with malt whiskies from the two Chichibu distilleries, with the aim of expanding sales outside Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt \u0026amp; Grain Blended Japanese Whisky, both produced with stock from the Chichibu Distillery, received the World’s Best awards in their respective categories seven times at the World Whiskies Awards organized by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhisky Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn March 2024, Whisky Magazine inducted Akuto into its Hall of Fame, making him the fifth Japanese figure to receive this honor. He was selected for establishing the first new whisky distillery in Japan in 35 years and becoming a leading figure in the Japanese whisky industry. The magazine cited his efforts to revive production techniques that had been fading during a period of industry stagnation, his technical innovations, his multiple award-winning whiskies, and his contributions to strengthening brand standards and improving the quality of Japanese whisky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu has grown to be the 3rd most popular brand of whisky although some may argue it is the most popular as it sells out the quickest for the releases it churns out pound for pound with the hardest place to obtain it, being Japan itself. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e57% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chichibu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52785668555090,"sku":"000055","price":699.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/4438211816.jpg?v=1771934621","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/chichibu-ichiros-malt-grain-10th-anniversary-for-bar-peace-hanyu-karuizawa-single-sherry-cask-blend-11953-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}