Chichibu : 12 Year Old Single Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel 2013

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the 12 Years Old Single Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel 2013 by Chichibu

Tasting

Appearance
The colour is a deep golden yellow.

Nose
Lively and deep, the nose opens with spicy notes of pepper and clove. It continues with herbaceous (freshly cut hay, clover) and floral (iris, carnation) tones. It calls to mind great white wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Cassis, as well as sakes. Notes of beeswax polish add a heady character.

Palate
The attack is crisp and tense, at once honeyed (acacia), saline and lemony. A savoury, malty bitterness, beautifully balanced, structures the palate, which is laced with infusions of rosemary, sage and green tea, along with a touch of blond tobacco. The finish, refined and concentrated, is pastoral and springlike (wildflowers, cut grass). It also turns juicy (yellow melon, roasted pineapple) and indulgent (candied grapes, fruit paste). Grated ginger, oregano and nutmeg lend energy to a lively close.

Pairings and Tasting Occasions

Bottled at its natural strength of 59.9%, without reduction, this single malt is ideally enjoyed neat and with attention. A little water can be added, according to the taster's preference, to appreciate all its nuances.

Mixology

This exceptional single cask is best enjoyed without embellishment, in order to preserve the full precision of its aromatic profile.

Other Characteristics

This whisky is unpeated. It was aged for 12 years in a refill bourbon barrel (a second-fill bourbon cask) and comes from cask #2874, distilled in 2013. It is bottled at 59.9% ABV in a 0.7 L format. It is presented in a gift box and belongs to La Maison du Whisky's Anthologists series. Only 162 bottles have been produced.

A rich, deep Japanese whisky with floral, spicy and honeyed notes

Chichibu, the artisanal excellence of Japanese whisky

Founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto in Chichibu, in Saitama Prefecture (Honshu), the Chichibu distillery has established itself as a benchmark for artisanal Japanese whisky. The heir to a family of spirits producers and to the former Hanyu distillery, Ichiro Akuto founded Venture Whisky, the parent company and current owner of Chichibu. Production takes place entirely on site, with fermentation in mizunara vats and distillation in small pot stills. In time, certain cuvées are intended to be made with local Japanese barley, peat and oak, in pursuit of a 100% Japanese whisky. A second distillery, Chichibu II, is equipped with direct-fired stills, a traditional method that brings richness, structure and depth.

A rare and expressive 12-year-old single cask

The 12 Years Old Single Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel 2013 is a single malt whisky drawn from a single cask, distilled in 2013 at Chichibu. It matured in a second-fill bourbon cask, which allows the character of the distillate to express itself without being overpowered by the wood. The result is a whisky that combines the freshness and vitality of youth with great maturity, offering power on the nose, a balance on the palate between sweet, salty, sour and bitter, and a finish of great nobility.
Bottled at 12 years old at cask strength, namely 59.9%, by an official bottler, this Chichibu is a rarity, making it as much a whisky for sipping as a collector's piece.