NV Hanyu, The Joker, Colour Label, 57.7%
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Tasting notes
The final deal of Ichiro Akuto's Card Series, a vatting of Hanyu from 1985 to 2000. Highly complex, rich, and distinctly resinous. Typical Hanyu boldness, but with balance struck between weightiness, finesse, and intensity. There's old cobbler's shop, tack room, light smoke, incense, ink, autumn leaves, and sumac. The palate is sweet to start, then builds in power. Leathery, then praline, damson jam, and fine tannins. Water loosens the tension, allowing yuzu to show. What a way to go out.£220
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About the producer
Chichibu is one of Japan’s smallest and most beloved single malt whisky producers, founded by the famed Master Distiller Ichiro Akuto in 2008. Akuto and Chichibu have been instrumental in Japanese whisky’s current popularity – and the sky-high secondary market prices fetched for certain bottlings.