Chichibu – Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries Chichibu & Komagatake Japanese Blended Malt Whisky (2021) (70cl, 53.5%)

This is a Japanese blended malt from Chichibu, released as Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries 2021 and subtitled Chichibu x Komagatake. It is a collaboration with the Mars Shinshu distillery, which recommenced distilling in 2011 and supplied some of its Komagatake single malt. The casks were aged at Chichibu, then bottled in 2021 at 53.5% without colouring or chill filtration. The whisky was matured in ex-bourbon, American white oak and ex-sherry casks. The nose offers caramel, old books, mango, pineapple and orange, and the palate brings banana, pineapple, mango, sea salt and vanilla.