In celebration of SMWS Japan's 30th Anniversary, the subscription whisky club has released via ballot a Chichibu single cask expression coded 130.6 (130 is Chichibu's SMWS code, and this is their cask #6) and is titled "While Away The Hours".

The expression was distilled and filled in 2013 and bottled in 2023, which does make for an interesting story as to why the whisky is only labelled as an 8 Year Old expression.

The cask used was a 1st Fill Barrel, with Concerto Barley used, and a total outturn of 211 bottles, bottled at 60.8% ABV.

Official Tasting Note

Aroma

First, manuka honey and warm brioche. Slightly burnt toast, cassis jam, leather tobacco pouches, walnuts and warm, resinous new oak spice. Caramel, licorice and heather flowers are also present in the background. Water reveals youthful dessert wine freshness, coffee cake, ginger in syrup, vanilla essence and a freshly opened cedarwood cigar box.

Taste

As soon as you put it in your mouth, you will feel an impressive balance. Smooth, syrupy textures, cough drops, menthol sweets, trickle toffee, caramelized bananas, layers of tobacco, olive oil cake, and sticky dark fruit baked in Armagnac. Water brings back the manuka honey notes, revealing dried citrus peel, orange oil, baked apple, raisins and tangy woody spice.

Images courtesy of SMWS Japan.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team