Ichiro's Malt & Grain ‘World Blended Whisky’ Limited Edition

風味筆記：先是麥芽糖般的甜感，立刻被烤香辛料、黑胡椒和煙燻辣椒帶起層次，接着橙皮奶油和熱帶水果的甜與香緩和了辛香，口中質地豐滿圓潤，老薑與胡椒推動前段，橡木與奶油橙皮延展至悠長煙燻尾韻。
酒莊與生產：由Ichiro Akuto主理的秩父釀廠自2007年成立以來以手工小批、重視季節差異的熟成著稱。這款限量「World Blend」以秩父麥芽與來自海外的穀物酒調和，既有地方風味也有國際感。
釀造與熟成：麥芽酒在秩父蒸餾，與進口穀物酒合勾後進橡木桶熟成，帶出香草、烤木與辛香。48% 酒精度保留香氣強度，採T-top軟木塞封瓶，強調桶味與融合度。
原料田地與風土：這款酒重點在原料穀物的來源與秩父獨特的氣候—冬冷夏溫差大，讓酒在小桶中加速發展複雜香氣；海外穀物則帶來圓潤與熱帶果香，共同塑造出有層次又易飲的限量調和款。口感方面推薦先醒十多分鐘，慢慢品味其香草、柑橘與煙燻交錯的變化。

Tasting note: Bright and compelling on the nose with barley-sugar sweetness, pan-roasted spices, cracked pepper and smoked paprika. Citrus and creamy orange-sherbet notes cut through the spice, joined by tropical-fruit highlights. On the palate it’s full-bodied and rounded — ginger and pepper push forward, then a wave of creamy citrus and oak tannin carries into a long, smoky finish.
Producer notes: Conceived by Ichiro Akuto of Chichibu, this limited-edition World Blend pairs Chichibu malt with carefully chosen grain whiskies from overseas. Launched among Chichibu's early releases, it celebrates small-batch craft blending with an international grain backbone.
Winemaking / distillation notes: Malt whisky from Chichibu is blended with imported grain spirit, matured in oak casks to develop spice and vanilla character. Bottled at 48% ABV with a T-top cork, the expression leans on toasted oak maturation and skilled marrying of components to achieve balance and depth.
Vineyard / raw material notes: Rather than vineyard, attention falls on grain provenance and climate: Chichibu’s marked seasonal swings accelerate maturation and add lively aromatics, while grain whiskies sourced abroad bring softness and tropical lift. The result is a textured, aromatic blended whisky that shows both terroir influence and global blending craft.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 48%
• Decant Time: 15 minutes
• Taste: smoked, barley sugar, peppercorn, smoked paprika, root ginger, creamy orange peel, tropical fruit, pan-roasted spices, oaky, spicy, long finish
• Food Matching: Dark chocolate (70%+), Smoked or grilled meats (e.g., smoked duck, yakitori), Aged hard cheeses (e.g., Manchego, Comté), Citrus-based desserts (orange tart, creamsicle), Smoked salmon or rich sashimi (seared tuna)
• Grape Variety: none ,

Winery

Ichiro's Malt（秩父酒廠）— 由Ichiro Akuto創立，2007年在日本秩父建立，以小批量、手工釀造與重視季節差異的熟成工藝聞名，常以創新調和展現豐富風味。

Ichiro's Malt / Chichibu Distillery — founded by Ichiro Akuto (grandson of the Hanyu founder) in 2007. A small, craft-focused Japanese distillery famed for expressive, seasonally influenced maturation and innovative blending.