Chichibu, 2013-2017, Ichiro's Malt, Single Cask Peated, bottled for Modern Malt Whisky Market 2017/Takashimaya, Variety of Barley: Peated Concerto, Bourbon Barrel # 2655, 52/232, 62.9% abv.

Modern Malt Whisky Market was started by Sanyo Bussan Co. in 2006 for people in the whisky and alcoholic beverages industry, so commoners and peons, like me, aren't allowed in. But like E3, I sometimes see pics of farmfolk attending the Tokyo event. MMWM seem to have some unique bottlings every year as well.

Nose: a base of wood, raw seaweed, almost lagavulin, and laphroaig like, but not as intense (...as the special bottlings), not salty, background hint of purple grapes. Couldn't really smell the effects of a 63% abv-er to be honest.

Palate: medium bodied, dry, initial palate is like salted grape juice, mid palate has a light lemon peel flavor, watermelon and grape juice, smoked wood, wait is this Lagavulin? back palate has all the peat coming out all at once... it is a little overwhelming, some watermelon juice too.

Finish: long, a little dry, smoked wood, burnt tires, light tar, continues to seep a dried lemon peel and dry peat juice.

To be honest, quite underwhelming for an Ichiro's Malt. Yes, the peat comes out on the back and only slightly on the nose, but it doesn't make me think of it in general, actually it's not a very memorable bottle as the flavors are pretty one dimensional, more like a lesser Laga or lighter Laphy..... or a Lag 16 or Froggie 10... not sure at this point, but the finish is better.

Grade: C+

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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