Ichiro Akuto's name carries serious weight in the world of Japanese whisky, and for good reason. The man behind Venture Whisky and the Chichibu distillery has built a reputation on craft, patience, and an uncompromising approach to malt whisky that has earned him admirers on every continent. This Double Distilleries expression — a blended malt vatted from two undisclosed distilleries and bottled at a generous 46.5% ABV — sits in that compelling space where Japanese precision meets a willingness to let the spirit speak for itself.
The "Double Distilleries" label tells us this is a marriage of malts from two distinct sources. With no age statement and no confirmed distillery provenance, this is a whisky that asks you to trust the blender's palate rather than chase numbers on a label. At a time when NAS releases can feel like an excuse for thin, young spirit, Ichiro's track record suggests something more considered is at work here. The 46.5% bottling strength is a welcome choice — high enough to carry texture and complexity without the need for cask strength bravado.
What strikes me about this release is its positioning. It sits at £94.95, which places it firmly in the mid-premium bracket for Japanese malt whisky — a category where prices have, frankly, become untethered from reality in recent years. By that measure, this feels like a relatively honest proposition. You are paying for Ichiro Akuto's blending skill and the quality of the component malts, not for a lacquered box and an age statement inflated by scarcity.
Tasting Notes
I would encourage anyone approaching this whisky to do so without preconceptions. The blended malt category in Japan is producing some genuinely exciting work right now, and Ichiro's expressions have consistently rewarded those willing to explore beyond the familiar single distillery names. Without specific tasting notes to hand for this bottling, I would expect the hallmarks of Ichiro's style: a deft balance, careful cask selection, and that particular Japanese sensitivity to harmony over raw power.
The Verdict
At 7.8 out of 10, I consider this a strong recommendation. The Double Distilleries bottling represents what I admire most about Ichiro Akuto's approach — a refusal to cut corners on strength, a blender's confidence in marrying malts from different sources, and a price point that, while not cheap, remains grounded in the quality of what is in the bottle. For anyone looking to explore Japanese blended malts without remortgaging the house, this is a credible and rewarding entry point. It is not trying to be the most complex whisky on your shelf, but it earns its place there with quiet authority.
Best Served
I would suggest trying this neat first at room temperature — give it fifteen minutes in the glass and let it open up. A few drops of soft water will coax out additional character if you find the 46.5% needs taming, but I suspect most drinkers will find it well-judged as it stands. This is also an outstanding candidate for a Japanese-style Highball: plenty of ice, good soda water, and a high ratio of mixer to spirit. The blended malt structure should hold its composure beautifully through dilution, and at this strength it will carry flavour where lesser whiskies simply vanish.
