The Whisky Change secured three single cask Chichibu whiskies. The collection is known as the Martial Arts trilogy for the illustrations on the (3D-ish lenticular) labels, and it accommodates three bottlings from totally different cask varieties, every bottled at a beneficiant 59.5% ABV.
As usually these Chichibu whiskies will probably be offered in a poll, one per 30 days. They’re beginning with a standard 2015 bourbon cask which is on-line now. The 2014 beer cask (used to mature Shiga-Kogen brewery’s The Far East) will comply with in September and a 2014 Chibidaru (Japanese for ‘cute cask’) in October.
Chichibu 2015 (59,5%, OB for The Whisky Change 2021, bourbon cask #5262, 233 btl.)
Nostril: basic creamy vanilla, with grassy notes and the aromatic hints of juniper and spices that I’m usually getting with Chichibu. Ginger and allspice. A whole lot of vibrant malty notes, dough, refined menthol and inexperienced bananas / pineapples. A whiff of patchouli as effectively.
Mouth: spicy assault (ginger, cinnamon, white pepper) with lemon zest. Quickly this bursts into lovely fruity notes like pineapple, Granny Smith apples and hints of grapefruit. Then minty notes, floral touches and eucalyptus tea construct, along with a refined trace of Mexican chocolate and candy vanilla. Nonetheless this contemporary natural facet beneath.
End: candy apples, however greater gingery notes, pepper and grassy notes.
An impeccable expression of Chichibu, with all of the anticipated markers, excessive purity and complexity. An excellent begin of this session. The poll is now energetic over at The Whisky Change however you’ll must register your curiosity shortly as it’s going to finish tonight.
Chichibu 2014 (59,5%, OB for The Whisky Change 2021, IPA beer cask #11049, 261 btl.)
Nostril: this does have a variety of IPA parts. Hints of mango, guava and grapefruit (pink and yellow) actually trace at a pleasant refreshing beer, combining properly with a greener, grassy facet, bay leaves and minty notes. Then inexperienced apples and a touch of honey. Dusty barley, ginger and hints of vanilla wafers. Hints of rice milk and flower petals too. General this model is brighter and fewer candy than the bourbon sibling.
Mouth: now a transparent bitter facet seems, with extra of the bay leaves, natural tea and an unmistakable hoppy facet. Additionally gin-like botanicals like cassia bark and Seville orange. Floral notes and grassy hints. There are citrus (peel) parts however not the spherical fruitiness of the bourbon model.
End: medium, nonetheless fruity however now the inexperienced / chalky notes develop stronger.
It is a very distinctive hybrid of whisky and beer. Clearly the bottom spirit is of top of the range, however these quirky IPA notes actually elevate it. Along with the gin-like edge it turns into a really fascinating outlier.
Whereas writing my notes I used to be fully constructive about it, scoring it greater than the bourbon model. Nonetheless after sitting within the glass for half an hour it appears to develop a bizarre odor, reminding me of smelly Wisteria and rancid beer. I double-checked the subsequent day, solely to get the identical growth… The preliminary impression was glorious, however one way or the other it’s a must to sip this shortly! I suppose it underlines the funky mixture of whisky and beer. Obtainable in October from The Whisky Change. You may get a notification as quickly because it’s out there. Onerous-to-pin-down rating: 86/100
Chichibu 2014 (59,5%, OB for The Whisky Change 2021, Chibidaru quarter cask #3508, 119 btl.)
Nostril: one way or the other this feels much less uniquely oriental. The attribute natural notes are subdued and overtaken buttery vanilla, rice pudding, leathery notes and linden tea. Properly light smoke seems within the background. Inexperienced walnuts and hints of chalk. Nonetheless a pleasant citrus be aware that spikes by way of. Actually good, only a tad extra generic after the opposite two.
Mouth: similar feeling. Oily spirit, with a subdued smoky be aware that actually sings, however the cask is a bit louder, bringing out aniseed, citrus peels, white pepper and contemporary oak shavings. Later refined hints of peach come out as effectively. Lemon peels and this gin-like facet return after some time. Oak char and burnt mint leaves convey all of it collectively.
End: pretty lengthy, spicy, with extra charred oak, vanilla and mint.
You get an even bigger (truly 75% smaller…) cask affect right here, however the light smoky contact is a pleasant asset and helps to stability the wooden. Though the wooden takes away among the distinctive Japanese character, there’s nonetheless a attribute citrus spike. Obtainable in October from The Whisky Change. Rating: 89/100
