{"product_id":"chichibu-2016-the-crane-collection-single-wine-mizunara-casks-14198-5857-japanese-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2025-2-x-70cl","title":"Chichibu 2016 The Crane Collection Single Wine \u0026 Mizunara Casks #14198 \u0026 #5857 Japanese Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2025) 2 X 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eChichibu 2016 The Crane Collection Single Wine \u0026amp; Mizunara Casks #14198 \u0026amp; #5857 Japanese Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2025) 2 X 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-main__description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA set of two bottles \u003cbr\u003e210 of the Mizunara Cask were bottled from a single hogshead\u003cbr\u003e310 of the Wine Cask were bottled from a single hogshead\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis duo of Chichibu 2016 single casks showcases two distinct expressions from the same year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCask 5857, made from Odyssey barley and matured in a hogshead with mizunara heads, presents peach, banana and apricot with a velvety texture, complemented by wood spices, leather and candied fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCask 14198, distilled from a blend of Concerto and Odyssey barley and finished in a Kusuda wine cask from New Zealand, offers white pepper, pine and cherry wood on the nose, with a full, warming palate of plum, wild thyme and nutmeg. Together, they highlight the depth and diversity of Chichibu distillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMizunara Cask #5857\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose: Musky herbal notes lead, with incense and leafy thyme joined by a touch of rosemary and curry leaf. Brown sugar and caramel notes develop along with floral and herbal honeys, freshly sawn fragrant oak and hints of Japanese cedar. Fruity notes of sweet plum, peach, baked apple and ripe pear build.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePalate: Apples and sour plums to start, with pears, pineapple, unripe mango and fresh apricots to follow. Spiced toffee and milk chocolate hide underneath, along with gentle incense notes. Light fruit cake and raisins build, along with wax polish and oaky spice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinish: Fresh and aromatic oak notes linger, joined by orchard fruit, oatcakes, and blackcurrant jam and leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Cask #14198\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose: Cherries and raspberries with hints of raisin and sultana. Orchard fruit peeks through: sharp apples and unripe pears balanced by plum and sugar-dusted gooseberry. Cocoa and brown sugar notes develop along with syrupy flapjacks and cherry bakewells.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate: Maraschino cherries lead, backed up by menthol freshness and redcurrant sharpness. Spiced sponge cake, sharp green apples and stewed pears follow. Fruit continues to build, with dark berries balanced by bright orchard fruit. Fragrant oak runs through the core.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish: Berries and cherries linger as menthol, toffee and milk chocolate fade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cnav class=\"product-navigation\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Chichibu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd., the distillery was established in 2007 and began production in 2008. It is one of three distilleries owned by Venture Whisky, whose principal brand is Ichiro's Malt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVenture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto for the purpose of commercializing Ichiro's Malt, a whisky produced from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which had been owned by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd., the Akuto family's company, until its sale that year, as well as to eventually produce whisky at a distillery of its own. This plan later took shape as the Chichibu Distillery. Chichibu Distillery was the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government, and its success contributed to the revitalization of the Japanese whisky industry, leading to the establishment of new distilleries across the country\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2019, the Chichibu Daini Distillery began operations, located 600 meters from the original Chichibu Distillery. Its first single malt, Chichibu Distillery II, was released in 2025. The production capacity of the Daini Distillery is five times that of the original facility, and its pot stills employ direct firing instead of steam-based indirect heating, while its fermentation tanks are made of French oak rather than mizunara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA unique characteristic of Chichibu is the use of locally grown barley and the pure water from the surrounding mountains, which contribute to the exceptional quality of their whisky. The distillery combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches, including the use of a wide variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This results in complex and refined flavour profiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu whiskies are known for their rich and versatile character, with notes of vanilla, fruit, spice, and sometimes a subtle smokiness. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of Ichiro Akuto and his team are reflected in the international recognition and awards their whiskies have received.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2025, the Tomakomai Distillery is scheduled to begin operations in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. It will produce grain whisky using a Coffey still and will increase overall production by blending it with malt whiskies from the two Chichibu distilleries, with the aim of expanding sales outside Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt \u0026amp; Grain Blended Japanese Whisky, both produced with stock from the Chichibu Distillery, received the World’s Best awards in their respective categories seven times at the World Whiskies Awards organized by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhisky Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn March 2024, Whisky Magazine inducted Akuto into its Hall of Fame, making him the fifth Japanese figure to receive this honor. He was selected for establishing the first new whisky distillery in Japan in 35 years and becoming a leading figure in the Japanese whisky industry. The magazine cited his efforts to revive production techniques that had been fading during a period of industry stagnation, his technical innovations, his multiple award-winning whiskies, and his contributions to strengthening brand standards and improving the quality of Japanese whisky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu has grown to be the 3rd most popular brand of whisky although some may argue it is the most popular as it sells out the quickest for the releases it churns out pound for pound with the hardest place to obtain it, being Japan itself. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/nav\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e59.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2 X 70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chichibu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56791486792005,"sku":"CHICHI2016CRANE","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/Chichibu2016TheCraneCollectionSingleWine_MizunaraCasks_14198_5857JapaneseSingleMaltScotchWhisky_2025_2X70cl1.jpg?v=1767642718","url":"https:\/\/b1yyjg-bk.myshopify.com\/products\/chichibu-2016-the-crane-collection-single-wine-mizunara-casks-14198-5857-japanese-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2025-2-x-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation Old","version":"1.0","type":"link"}