Ichiro's Malt & Grain bottled for the 26th anniversary of the Kiyosato Field Ballet in 2015. Ichiro Akuto married malt from the closed Hanyu distillery with grain whisky from the closed Kawasaki distillery, two sources that can no longer be replaced.
About This Whisky
The blend brings together a 1990 Hanyu malt and a 1982 Kawasaki grain, matured in refill sherry butts and Demerara rum casks, and was bottled at 48% in 2015. The Kiyosato Field Ballet has danced outdoors in the highlands of Yamanashi every July and August since 1990. Its anniversary bottlings began with the 25th, a Suntory blend. From the 26th onwards Ichiro supplied several years of Hanyu and Kawasaki blends in the same style.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Toffee, dried apricot and a waft of rum-soaked raisin, with old oak.
- Palate: Supple and rich. Brown sugar, sweet corn-led grain, sherried fruit and baking spice.
- Finish: Medium-long, with molasses, polished wood and gentle pepper.
Serving & Food
Room temperature, neat, in a Glencairn or small wine glass. It is soft enough at 48% not to need water, though a few drops lift the rum-cask sweetness. Serve with crème brûlée, pecan pie or a hard sheep's cheese.
How to Enjoy
Ichiro's Malt collectors following the Field Ballet series, and drinkers curious about old Japanese grain whisky.
Product Details
Producer: Ichiro's Malt / Venture Whisky
Expression: Malt & Grain Kiyosato Field Ballet 26th Anniversary
Style: Japanese blended whisky
Components: Hanyu 1990 malt, Kawasaki 1982 grain
Cask: Refill sherry butts and Demerara rum casks
Bottled: 2015
ABV: 48%
Origin: Japan
Volume: 700mL
About the Distillery
Besides the Hanyu stock, Ichiro Akuto bought casks from Kawasaki, the grain distillery run by Mercian, the same company that owned Karuizawa. Kawasaki made the grain side of Mercian's whisky while Karuizawa made the malt, and both were closed after Mercian became part of the Kirin group.
Having old Hanyu malt and Kawasaki grain in the same warehouse let Venture Whisky make all-Japanese blends from two lost distilleries, which is how it produced the Field Ballet anniversary bottlings.