Chichibu Ichiro's Malt and Grain Limited Edition

48% ABV. Ichiro’s Malt and Grain Limited Edition is the senior sibling to the Whisky above. Like the entry Malt and Grain, this is a blend of Whiskies from around the globe, but here the practically ancient Akuto stocks (up to 40 years old) also feature, along with a higher proportion of malt to grain. Again, we don’t know the exact balance. You can expect the blend to include Scotch Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky, American Bourbon, Irish Whiskey, and Ichiro’s own Japanese single malt Whisky. Each Whisk(e)y is aged for at least 10 years before vatting; many of the sourced whiskies are aged 20–40 years. It is packaged in Mizunara oak.

Behind its blue label, this supremely drinkable blend is layered with a sweet and spicy complexity. Although the grain component is less prominent here, it is still allowed to shine before apple pie and spices layer upon lemon curd and oats and then progress towards more decadent toffee and malt notes, with a whisper of salty smoke to finish. As you would expect from a distiller described by Whisky writer Tristan Stephenson as the “closest you are likely to get to Whisky royalty in Japan”, the balance and overall quality are exceptional.