Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Chibidaru Cask Strength Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml)

Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu Distillery, which opened in 2004, mainly matures whiskies in bourbon casks, but also sherry casks, and new oak (American, French and Mizunara). Ichiro has taken the further step of establishing his own cooperage and one of the first projects he's instigated is to make quarter casks of 120-130 liter capacity from bourbon barrels, a practise first employed by the Scots. The smaller casks tend to accelerate maturation. Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2014. 6200 bottles of 2010 Chibidaru are on offer worldwide.

Other reviews... [2009 bottling tasted] Chibidaru is a Japanese slang term meaning “small,” which is appropriate given the size of the cask—quarter-size—used for maturing whisky from a chibidaru distillery. This has the intensity of youth with some lemon meringue pie, pomelo, and hint of night-scented stocks. As the nose suggests, this is a wee (chibidaru) sweetie with mouthwatering citrus character and soft-centered sweetness moving to mace, strawberry, and a popping candy finish. Akuto-san is making some great whisky. 85 points
- maltadvocate.com, (Winter 2013) Reviewed by: Dave Broom