Ichiro's Malt 1991 Five of Clubs

Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve

This is a blend of malts from the now-closed Hanyu distillery which were finished in a French oak cask that contained Japanese red wine. The vatting and bottling took place at Chichibu distillery in 2010. The nose is rich and malty. The first flavours to note are vanilla, followed by a hint of honey and bananas. Later on there are notes of sawdust...

Score 81/100

Hanyu 1988 21 Year Old 'Noh' cask #9306

Another Hanyu, this from a Sherry Butt, and another 'Noh' bottling- and poor review titles aside... Nose: Rich and a bit woody, it's the ash influence. Apple (red and a few green), sandalwood. Then it turns to fruit: dates, figs, and mince pie filling. Slight hint of salted, raw, and thinly cut meat (not quite a beefy ceviche). Waxy with dried...

Score 90/100

Hanyu Ichiro's Malt 23 Year Old

Hanyu Distillery was located in a town of the same name, 70 kilometres north of Tokyo. The original company was founded from a family business originally established in 1626 by the Akuto family, sake makers in the town of Chichibu. In 1941 Isouji Akuto, representing the 19th generation of the Akuto family, built a factory in Hanyu to produce...

Score 87/100

Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt 2000 Single Cask

Chichibu distillery is located in the town of Chichibu, close to the city of Saitama and about 120 kilometres to the northwest of Tokyo. Ichiro Akuto, the distillery’s charismatic founder, started construction planning in 2007, and after completing the distillery, a bottling plant and a warehouse he began distilling in the spring of 2008. The...

Score 84/100