Chichibu 7 Years Old 2011 Cask #1296 (LMDW)

Cask number 1296 from Chichibu in Saitama was distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2018 at 7 years old for La Maison du Whisky in France, one of the longstanding international partners for Venture Whisky and its founder Ichiro Akuto. The release is at cask strength and represents a straightforward, distillery-character-led expression.

The maturation is a single Ex-Bourbon cask, the most common vessel in Chichibu's programme and the one most likely to show the distillery's fruit-forward, clean and lightly floral new make without significant additional complexity from the wood. Seven years in American oak brings vanilla, ripe orchard fruit and a gentle butterscotch note, all consistent with what this style of cask does to a vibrant, well-made new make. At 58.8% the spirit is bright and well-proportioned, a clear statement of the Saitama distillery's core character.