Malt & Grain Blended Whisky (700 ml)

Ichiro Akuto founded Chichibu Distillery in 2008 after salvaging the remaining casks of his family's shuttered Hanyu Distillery — a rescue operation that became the founding logic of his blending philosophy: source the best component wherever it exists, then blend without compromise. That ethos drives the Malt & Grain expression, which combines Chichibu single malt with grain whiskies drawn from distilleries across Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

Chichibu sits at roughly 350 m elevation in Saitama Prefecture's Chichibu basin, where cold winters and a significant diurnal range slow maturation and concentrate ester development in the malt component. The grain whiskies are selected to add textural weight and sweetness that Chichibu's lighter, fruit-forward new make does not naturally carry alone.

The blend is bottled non-chill-filtered at 46% ABV, preserving the fatty acid esters that would otherwise be stripped at lower temperatures — a deliberate choice that keeps the mouthfeel intact. No age statement is declared, allowing Akuto to blend across vintages for consistency of house character rather than age-driven marketing.

What separates this expression from most Japanese blends is the transparent acknowledgment of multi-country grain sourcing — an honesty rare in the category. Drink now through the next three to four years.