11/27/2022
A dram of whiskey is the perfect accompaniment to brisk, late fall evenings! Our beverage director, Jackson Miller, has been working diligently to track down some beautiful, allocated Japanese whiskies to add to our spirits list. We think all of these bottles are complete delights, but we are especially excited about the following two:
đ„ Chichibu: Ichiboâs Malt US Edition 2021
Chichibu is among Japanâs most revered distilleries and has been called has called âthe Pappy Van Winkle of Japanese whisky,â by Wine Enthusiast.
We are so excited to have secured one of these extremely special bottles. The fourth release in the U.S. edition series saw only 2150 bottles produced! This non-peated single malt was matured in a combination of new barrels, 1st-fill bourbon barrels, and new hogsheads to achieve the sophistication, complexity, depth, and balance that are the distillery's hallmarks. As always, production was overseen by Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the founder of the legendary Hanye Distillery. When  Chichibu launched in 2007, it was the first distillery to open in Japan in more than 30 years. It is nothing short of astounding that, in just under a decade and a half, Chichibu is now widely regarded as one of the leaders in the increasingly demanding, high-stakes world of single maltsâa testament to Ichiro's singular vision, dedication, and drive.
đ„ Yamazaki Mizunara 2022Â
Mizunara is a species of oak native to Japan and is considered the signature enhancer giving Yamazaki its quintessential Japanese character and elegance. Whiskies which undergo a long maturation in Mizunara casks take on a distinctive Japanese spiciness and incense-like flavor of sandalwood and agarwood. The Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt Whisky is comprised of meticulously selected long-matured malt whiskies showcasing the rare, distinctive beauty of the hand crafted Mizunara casks.Â
This bottlingâs time in mizunara oak has imparted a spicy, aromatic character with rich, elegant notes of custard cream biscuits, caramel, cinnamon, incense and oak throughout the palate. It is gentle on the tongue and has a finish resplendent with deep woody notes reminiscent of Japanese incense.
