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Whisky Review: Ichiro’s Malt and Grain

We review Ichiro's Malt and Grain, an "all world" whisky that combines distillate from Scotland, Canada, Ireland, the United States, and Japan.

OVERALL RATING

9
$106.00
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Tasting Notes

About:

A blend of whiskies with the Japanese Ichiro’s Malt as the base combined with whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, each blended for four to eight years in various locations. The final blend is bottled at 46.5% ABV and sold for an average of $106 per bottle.
Appearance:
Brighter than the average whisky with a pale gold hue.
Nose:
Starts like a sweet but delicate vanilla that then quickly develops into a tart bouquet of orange and apple with the alcohol manifesting a bit like a sauvignon blanc. That eventually tones down to a more subdued combination of toffee, pear and plums – again with a twinge of alcohol that’s like white wine, only this time a bit like pinot gris.
Palate:
Very similarly to the nose, the first sip starts off like a very delicate vanilla with just the faintest hints of sweet tropical fruit and flowers. That gradually transitions to more of a hazelnut-like vanilla with a flare of ginger to it, gradually building in spiciness as a notes of pepper and peat develop. Swallowing takes an interesting turn as it leads to a wave of a nutty, pepper in the back the mouth, which then quickly ebbs away. That leads to a brief pause before another wave gently rolls tasting first of honey, then of a firm but gentle surge of pepper. That finally fades into a honey-like coating on the tongue with a very faint tickle of ginger.
Finish:
Comments:
For being an “all world whisky” of distillates from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States, I can think of few whiskies from those countries to match this blend. Ichiro’s Malt and Grain does everything I want and rarely find in a whisky: it’s on the sweeter side but in a way that’s not overpowering – allowing for a range of earthy and spicy flavors – while taking the drinker on a journey between distinct yet subtle waves of flavors. rnrnI highly recommend this Ichiro’s Malt and Grain, specifically for a sipping when you’re in the mood to contemplate the dram before you.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Aaron Knapp

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