Chichibu Single Cask #1431 4 Years Old 2011 (Mizunara)

Cask number 1431 from Chichibu distillery in Saitama is a single mizunara maturation, distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2016 at 4 years old for event distribution at cask strength. Venture Whisky and founder Ichiro Akuto have used mizunara casks as a signature element of the Chichibu programme, sourcing local Japanese oak for a portion of the warehouse from the distillery's earliest years.

Four years in mizunara is a notable commitment given how slowly and unpredictably Japanese oak gives up its character. The noted flavour profile of citrus, new wood and oily notes reflects the early stages of mizunara influence: the oil and waxy texture are hallmarks of the wood, while the new wood and citrus suggest the spirit is still in the process of absorbing the cask's contribution rather than having fully integrated it. At 61% cask strength, the bottling is vivid and assertive, showing Chichibu's Saitama new make at an early, characterful stage of mizunara development.