Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt & Grain

The Chichibu Ichiro's Malt and Grain range is Venture Whisky's blended whisky series, centred on Chichibu distillery in Saitama but drawing on additional sources that may include imported or world-blend spirit. This 2018 bottling for the domestic Japanese market was matured in Ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength, placing it among the more concentrated expressions in the range and targeting the discerning domestic market.

The flavour profile here is notably detailed: chocolate and cooked fruit give dark richness, while fresh fruit and honey add lift and sweetness, and a sandy, minerally note grounds the finish. Bottled without dilution, this Japanese domestic release captures the full range of the blend's character in a more textured and concentrated form than the standard international expressions. The variety of flavour notes suggests a well-aged selection of casks went into this particular bottling.