Chichibu Ichiro’s Malt and Grain Blended Whisky

Chichibu Ichiro's Malt and Grain Blended Whisky is the 'White Label' world blend, bottled at 46% ABV.

Single-cask releases are where most of the attention goes, but this is the constant in the range — the whisky Ichiro Akuto is said to drink daily, with a dash of warm water in winter. The back label states the intent plainly: components from England, Canada, the United States, Ireland and Scotland. Proportions are guarded, though it is believed to run about 30 per cent malt to 70 per cent grain, mostly unpeated, averaging ten years with the oldest stocks reaching twenty. The sourced whiskies age at home before two to three years more at Chichibu, then marry in Mizunara tanks with a portion of the previous batch retained.

Rye leads the nose, with sherry-cask spice and a touch of peat behind it; the palate turns warm and spicy with banana bread, apricot, orange and peach, and the finish carries a gentle medicinal tang. Neat, or over one large cube. It also makes an excellent highball.