Ichiro’s Malt The Single Cask No. 708

A truly rare single cask bottling of Japanese Malt Whisky packed with flavor and generations of meaning.

The best description we’ve ever heard about Ichiro Akuto is that he’s the “Rock Star of Japanese Whisky.” While the other heavyweight executives of Japan’s thriving distilling industry can walk around Spirit conferences in obscurity, Ichiro Akuto gets mobbed by fans. With good reason. His family owned the legendary Hanyu Distillery for generations and when they sold the business, Ichiru held on to the standing inventory and issue special releases for years — including the famous “Playing Cards” series that made him famous. He has used those proceeds to craft new flavorful blends and other tasty offerings.

Hanyu is the name of a long gone distillery. In fact, it is the name of the distillery owned by Ichiro’s grandfather. Ichiro’s Malt Single Cask No. 708 is the second single cask release of Ichiro Malt Whisky. And this one was aged in a single Hogshead cask from the honorable distillery of his grandfather. Imagine, if you can, how much meaning and importance Ichiro has packed into this release. The Spirit comes from the Chichibu Distillery where it was distilled in February of 2010. Just 304 bottles were filled in June of 2016 at 63.1% ABV without chill-filtration or artificial colors. All that’s in there is expert craftsmanship, superior Spirit, and generations of meaning.