Chichibu 2012 Refill Hanyu Cask The Little Big Book

Japanese Single Malt – 61.1%, 700ml Single Cask no. 2085 – Refill Hanyu Cask Produced using the optic barley variety, Chichibu’s first peated malt was distilled in June-July 2009 and bottled in November 2009. Once again, it was another stroke of genius from Ichiro Akuto. Whether on the nose or on the palate, this particularly bright bottling showcases an omnipresent peat. Overflowing with charm and naturalness, it is nourished by other flavour and aroma components that flesh out the many facets of its personality. With delicate minerality, it allows us to admire a chromatic palette that alternates between slate grey and bright yellow. The deep initial nose is intensely peaty, smoky, floral (dandelion) and rich (Normandy apple tart). Allowed to breathe, it becomes medicinal (ointment), chocolatey and herbaceous (cut hay). The full-bodied attack is also peaty and floral. Smoke rings float across the vanilla and salty mid-palate. On the long start to the finish, malted barley and peat rival each other in intensity. The retro-nasal olfaction is vegetal (gentian, verbena) and the empty glass very smoky.