Whisky enthusiast/writer Ulf Buxrud recently released his web published dedication to all things Ichiro Malt Card Series. 
Plenty of stuff that would have been taken from his book about Japanese whisky but as this web based info is free, a handy reference guide indeed. You can view Mr Buxruds site here and if there are any Card Series fanatics out there that spot any errors please contact me, I’ll be sure to pass it on.
Recently I jumped the gun and posted on the ‘last’ 4 bottling’s of the Ichiro’s Card Series. In an article posted in the Japan Times a couple of days ago, chief still man Masashi Watanabe tells reporter Melinda Joe there will be one more, The Joker. The cask type itself is not revealed. You can read the full report here.
Nose: There are signs of youth with some yeast/wort. It is also fairly light. Pork rinds, ash and coal, brine, caramel chews, seared scollops.
Palate: Again fairly mellow for 50.5%. Lots of natural caramel, pepper, pork crackling, ash, diesel, lemon, oregano, some candyness, menthol.
Finish: Pork rinds, caramel, menthol, oak, ash/tar, some hot spices then sweet fizzyness.
Last Word: Ok I was expecting to be blown away the way I was when I first tasted the Chichibu Newborn Heavily Peated. Didn’t quite work out that way as this is a more tempered experience. Still quite amazing for the age, the flavors have become more concentrated after a couple of months open.
Rating: 86/100
Nose: Thick manuka honey, sap/resin, euchalyptus cough drops, brown sugar, steamed spinach, mixed herbs, caramel, magnolias, white peaches, zinfandel, caramel chews. Water enhances the resin and herbs.
Palate: Wow! Very fruity. White plums, white peaches, brown sugar, blueberry bubblegum, mizunara oak, manuka honey, zinfandel. Water brings out sweet spices and florals.
Finish: Honey, white peaches, zinfandel, white plums, resin/sap, fresh tanned leather. Water lengthens the finish.
Last Word: 3 years old, has to be a misprint! How much longer could this stuff spend in such active casks? My favorite Chichibu so far. A winner!
Rating: 88/100.
Nose: Citric peat, diesel, chargilled steak. Water adds some floral notes.
Palate: Chargrilled sirloin marinated in Old No.7 sauce with chargrilled eggplant and chargrilled capsicum on the side. Eucalyptus tree regrowth after a bush fire. Camphor, Kippers. Peppery spice, cigar smoke. With water becomes more citric/lemon and chocolatey. Perfectly drinkable neat at 61.4 per cent.
Finish: Peat, peppered gravy, chargrilled steak, cigar smoke, diesel, lemon. Long, warming and drying out at the end.
General comments: I’d heard good things about this. Seems they are true. Amazing balance and complexity for a 3-month-old new make.
Rating: 88/100
Nose: Lots of leafy notes to start. Bourbony. Cola, cigar leaf, some floral notes, bread dough, lemon, pork crackling, strawberry, butter menthols, fish sauce, mashed potatoes.
Palate: Neat, it’s big on hot spices; vanilla, cola, tobacco and strawberry. With water, lots of barley sugar, more vanilla, sweet orange, ginger, honey and bubblegum.
Finish: Is long and malty with tobacco, mushrooms and sweet spices.
Last Word: Chichibu is officially on the whisky map and how!
Rating: 86/100
Nose: Shy it’s not. Big notes of fermenting pears, cookie dough, pine needles, eucalyptus, soap flakes, malt soaked timber, tinned peaches, kiwi fruit and menthol.
Palate: Intensely malty. Czech pilsner, cornflake cookies, muesli bars, pine, menthol. Also brings back memories of walking past the yakitori stalls in the alleyways along the north west side Shinjuku station. Quite oily. An unusual but appealing profile.
Finish: Actually a bit short considering the bold nose and palate. Mostly follows the palate with some added lime.
Last word: Like the Chichibu The First this one is very good at only 3 years old. You can just sense the care that goes into these hand crafted whiskies.
Rating: 86/100
*Update 2/01/2013 I’ve always known there was a flavor in the mix that I needed to add to these motes and it’s a very strong one. Just taken me awhile to put my finger on it. Kellogg/s Honey Puffs.