Ichiro's Malt Chichibu On the Way

Chichibu On The Way 2019 - 51.5 % ABV, sample bottle. Nose: Sweet vanilla and floral up front, like a bouquet of roses covered in creamy vanilla icing. Fruits and spices with honeydew melons, stewed white nectarines, apples, Asian pears, cinnamon, cloves and mild oak. Palate: Sweet oak and woody up front, but gives way to sweet malts, baking spices and stewed white nectarines, apples and Asian pears. The wood lingers from start to finish, with oak spice that gives way to sweet oak, malts, and hints of mild tobacco. Sweet fruits throughout with a long finish. Final Thoughts: Very complex and enjoyable. One of those glasses you can nose and taste forever. All the while finding new subtle notes along the way.

2013 and 2019. 2013: Nose: Vanilla, Peaches, Roses, Lavender, Grapefruit, Honey, Yuzu, Grass, Spearmint, Oranges, Pears, Red Apples, Papayas, Pineapples, Violets, Sandalwood, Lychee, Kumquats, Sudachi, Popcorn Palate: Lemon, Grass, Pepper, Malt, Honey, Pears, Grapefruits, Yuzu, Cherries, Root Beer, Peaches, Mangoes, Mangoes, Pineapples, Sudachi Finish: Malt, Honey, Grapefruit, Vanilla, Popcorn, Grass, Lychee, Yuzu, Sudachi, Kalamansi 2019: Nose: Honey, Grass, Pears, Malt, Green Apples, Bubble Gum, Vanilla, Caramel, Smoke, Red Apples, Papayas, Mangoes, Dark Chocolate, Coffee, Lychee, Cherries, Elderflower, Lavender, Yuzu, Green Apples Palate: Honey, Grass, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Cherries, Raisins, Smoke, Vanilla, Peaches, Red Apples, Yuzu, Oranges, Herbs Finish: Honey, Vanilla, Papayas, Orange Peels, Herbs, Flowers, Sandalwood, Grass, Chamomile Edge goes to the 2013 as it screams japan with its sandalwood, lychee, floral, and Asian citrus tasting notes

Sophisticated taste. Spicy and floral. Nice scent of herbs but somehow tastes artificial.

Tried the 2015 edition of this at a drammers club dekanta tasting. Aged in 1 bourbon cask, 1 refill cask, and 1 Mizunara cask. Very good with notes of Vanilla, Caramel, Lychee, Sandalwood, Yuzu, Peach, Mango, Flowers, Cherry, Pepper, Grass, and Coconut with a malty, buttery, and creamy mouthfeel.