Chichibu Silver Oak Finish 2023 Cask #11359,13341,13342

The Chichibu Silver Oak Finish 2023 is a single cask expression from the Saitama distillery of Venture Whisky, drawn from a specific trio of casks numbered 11359, 13341 and 13342 and released at cask strength 54% for the Italian market. Chichibu, founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008, has developed one of the most varied cask programmes among Japanese craft distilleries, and the Silver Oak Finish represents its engagement with American wine-barrel maturation from the well-regarded Silver Oak winery.

The maturation record shows Ex-Bourbon and red wine cask involvement, with the Silver Oak finish applying the final influence. Silver Oak produces Cabernet Sauvignon in American oak rather than the French oak more common in Bordeaux production, meaning the finish adds a distinct combination of red berry and dried fruit with a firmer, more spiced tannin structure than French oak wine casks would typically give. At 54% cask strength, the whisky delivers the full, concentrated character of all three cask types in a single-cask expression designed for a specific market.