Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Maduro Grand Hyatt Ritz Carlton Tokyo Exclusive Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2019) 70cl

Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Maduro Grand Hyatt Ritz Carlton Tokyo Exclusive Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2019) 70cl

1 of 300 Bottles

From its Mizunara wash backs and small stills with steep lyne arms to the fact that the mashman uses a wooden paddle to stir the mash, Chichibu is a hands-on distillery with quality as an intrinsic focus. With the ground now broken on a blending room, and an off-site cooperage, Ichiro Akuto's distillery - formed from the ashes of his grandfather's Hanyu distillery - is one of the finest producers in Japan. With the perfect climate of humid summers and cold winters, Chichibu is an ideal location for whisky production and has become a huge part of the Japanese whisky revolution.

The Chichibu distillery is lately working together closely with the most luxury hotels in Tokyo. After the release of the Chichibu Peninsula 2018 , they have now bottled a single cask blended whisky for the Grand Hyatt Hotel as well. This new release is called Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Maduro and will be sold exclusively in the hotel’s Maduro lounge. Moreover, it is also the very first Japanese whisky by the Grand Hyatt hotel chain (YES, it is very collectible among the investors!)

Ichiro's Malt & Grain is blended by the king of independent Japanese distillers: Ichiro Akuto. Maduro is named after the jazz lounge of the same name with staff from the bar selecting the components of the whisky.

It comprises whisky from his own stocks, as well as his own Chichibu distillery, and possibly also some components distilled at other Japanese distilleries and from other countries.

Bottled for the Ritz Carlton Tokyo

About Chichibu

Chichibu is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd., the distillery was established in 2007 and began production in 2008. It is one of three distilleries owned by Venture Whisky, whose principal brand is Ichiro's Malt.

Venture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto for the purpose of commercializing Ichiro's Malt, a whisky produced from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which had been owned by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd., the Akuto family's company, until its sale that year, as well as to eventually produce whisky at a distillery of its own. This plan later took shape as the Chichibu Distillery. Chichibu Distillery was the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government, and its success contributed to the revitalization of the Japanese whisky industry, leading to the establishment of new distilleries across the country

In 2019, the Chichibu Daini Distillery began operations, located 600 meters from the original Chichibu Distillery. Its first single malt, Chichibu Distillery II, was released in 2025. The production capacity of the Daini Distillery is five times that of the original facility, and its pot stills employ direct firing instead of steam-based indirect heating, while its fermentation tanks are made of French oak rather than mizunara.

A unique characteristic of Chichibu is the use of locally grown barley and the pure water from the surrounding mountains, which contribute to the exceptional quality of their whisky. The distillery combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches, including the use of a wide variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This results in complex and refined flavour profiles.

Chichibu whiskies are known for their rich and versatile character, with notes of vanilla, fruit, spice, and sometimes a subtle smokiness. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of Ichiro Akuto and his team are reflected in the international recognition and awards their whiskies have received.

In 2025, the Tomakomai Distillery is scheduled to begin operations in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. It will produce grain whisky using a Coffey still and will increase overall production by blending it with malt whiskies from the two Chichibu distilleries, with the aim of expanding sales outside Japan.

Between 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky, both produced with stock from the Chichibu Distillery, received the World’s Best awards in their respective categories seven times at the World Whiskies Awards organized by Whisky Magazine

In March 2024, Whisky Magazine inducted Akuto into its Hall of Fame, making him the fifth Japanese figure to receive this honor. He was selected for establishing the first new whisky distillery in Japan in 35 years and becoming a leading figure in the Japanese whisky industry. The magazine cited his efforts to revive production techniques that had been fading during a period of industry stagnation, his technical innovations, his multiple award-winning whiskies, and his contributions to strengthening brand standards and improving the quality of Japanese whisky.

Chichibu has grown to be the 3rd most popular brand of whisky although some may argue it is the most popular as it sells out the quickest for the releases it churns out pound for pound with the hardest place to obtain it, being Japan itself.

58.8% ABV

70cl