Chichibu 7 Years Old Cider Cask LMDW Itinéraires 2017

For La Maison du Whisky’s Itinéraires collection, Japanese distillery Chichibu has partnered with artist Yoshiya Hongo and Michelin-starred chef Shinichi Sato to blend both visual and gastronomic creativity in a collection of four single casks. For each expression, Hongo has created an original work of art inspired by tasting notes written by Sato. The artist’s aluminium sculptures are translations of the aromatic and flavour profiles of the four whiskies selected and tasted by Shinichi Sato. Chichibu 7 Years Old Cider Cask LMDW Itinéraires 2017 is made with the Venture barley variety and aged in a barrel that previously contained locally produced cider—a first for the distillery. The result is a particularly expressive whisky overflowing with fruit and noble spices. The flavour and aroma palette reaches its pinnacle late in the tasting with a perfect recreating of the warm atmosphere found on a malting floor. The single malt is bottled at a robust 61.4% and saw a limited release of just 219 bottles.