CHICHIBU ICHIRO'S MIZUNARA WOOD RESRVE MWR 700ML

Style: Whisky

While Ichiro Akuto can trace his ancestors¿ association with brewed (and later distilled) beverages back to 1625, the origins of this story start in 1946, when Akuto¿s grandfather established the now closed Hanyu Distillery in Saitama Prefecture. Initially a Saké brewery, Akuto¿s grandfather began to dabble in Whisky after WWII. His passion was passed on to his son, Akuto¿s father, who, by the late 1990s had amassed about 400 casks of maturing Hanyu Whisky. However, following an economic downturn, in 2000 the Akuto family were compelled to sell the distillery and its assets to a Kyoto-based Shochu producer. Thanks to its size, and Ichiro¿s sense of adventure, the distillery can experiment with a variety of casks for maturation: ex-bourbon casks, Sherry hogsheads, French wine barrels, and new American oak¿to name but a few! ¿as well as casks made from the native Mizunara oak, which are coopered on site. BIBENDUM BAR

Ichiro Akuto has created a vatting of single malts and matured them in Japanese Mizunara oak casks, commonly referred to as Japanese oak. Mizunara Oak became popular out of necessity for distillers after the Second World War when supplies of foreign oak were difficult to source, but it turned out to be a far from ideal vessel. Mizunara's loose grains tended to cause leakage, and also created challenges in terms of timber selection and manufacture. The positive is that Mizunara oak does offer quite distinctive notes. This oak gives nuances of sandalwood and oriental spice.

Region: Saitama, JAPAN

Variety: Whisky

ABV: 46%

Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years. Lic No. LIQP770016424

*We endeavour to ensure the correct vintage is displayed, however some variations may occur in store and for delivered bottles.