Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

Now this is a great idea. Take single malt from the now gone Hanyu Distillery and single malt from the newly born Chichibu Distillery and blend them together. Puncheon and ex-sherry casks were used at Hanyu Distillery and virgin Japanese oak casks were used from Chichibu Distillery. This is symmetry of artistry, the last remaining casks from one distillery with the first (or so) from another.

Nose: Oak a plenty, freshly cut wood, sandalwood, biscuits, green apples

Taste: Malt, cinnamon, nutmeg

Finish: Dry, mint, ginger, sun dried apricots

Malty and oaky, I like this.

I saw this bottle in a whisky store in Tokyo and wanted it badly. Pity was, I'd already planned on stocking up in the distillery store in Yoichi. By the time I had returned to Tokyo there were still bottles laying around so I hatched a plan. To buy it and ship it back to Australia. I returned to Tokyo wrapped it up and proceeded to the post office in Shinjuku. The parcel clearly declares it contains whisky and the ABV - all legit for posting between Japan and Australia. Considering the price I got this for in Japan (approx 80 USD), even with taxes, this would be a steal in Australia. If I could even find it in Australia. Fast forward my return and the bottle turned up in the mail. No further action required. Victory.

The sample tried is from a whisky bar in Japan.