Ichiro’s Malt 1991 (Hanyu)
Bought this little 200ml bottle in Japan back in 2010, after that Yoichi 20 yo, curiosity got the better of me and I’ve cracked it open.
Ok so this is really malt from the closed Hanyu distillery. Hanyu distillery was located in the town of Hanyu admidst paddy fields. It began Malt whisky production in the 1980s overseen by one Isouji Akuto, from the long line of sake brewers of the Akuto family. The Toa company owned Hanyu by 200o when it went bankrupt and the stills were dismantled in 2004.
Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of Isouji, with the help of sake company Sasanokawa Shuzo, salvaged some of the old stock from Hanyu that the new owners of the original distillery site did not want. This stock was bottled under the label Ichiro’s malt from 2005 by the new company Ichiro founded (Venture) and one thing led to another and Ichiro has since founded the new Chichibu distillery to continue the story of his family’s association with malt.
Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be many pictures of Hanyu distillery available. This one is of the old stills:
Ichiro’s Malt 1991 57.8%
“This Single Malt Whisky is from the Hanyu distillery, located in a town bearing its name on the banks of the Tone river. The distillery was surrounded by barley and paddy fields. Hanyu used to make malt whisky in the traditional Scottish way, but the distillery was completely dismantled in 2004 because of a change in ownership. Fortunately the stock and facilities were saved by Ichiro, the grandson of the founders of the Hanyu distillery. His new distillery is now located in the hill of Chichibu, where he was born. He started making whisky again in February 2008.”
Nose: Rich jam, figs and raisins. Sherry cask for sure.But also a very bitter note: upripe quinces and greengage jam. Smells tannic already. Also oak seems active, strong woody notes and associated wood spice, but even at this strength noseable and balanced. With water: Ah. this one needs a little bit of water. Now it speaks of juicy dark fruit and chocolate. Roasted nuts/coffee scents, also something very ‘fragrant’ like sweet wood or even cola. Still dry and tannic though.
Palette: Rich and sweet, those jammy and dark fruits notes pulling through. Quite a weighty and … a distinct funky note! Mouldering cardboard? Becomes bitter and tannic. With water: A different drink – Sweet but immediately turns drying! Interesting, now its all jammy and almost overripe fruit, but also buttery smooth and the distinct bitterness of walnuts and unripe green fruit lingers.
Finish: Long, dry, dark fruit and chocolate.
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