Ichiro's New Blend Hits Hankyu

The new Malt & Grain blend by Ichiro Akuto, which contains nine different types of distillate, has finally arrived at the Hankyu department store in Umeda. Tasting is on offer but for those who wish to purchase this better hurry, as stocks are limited. As with any bottling of Ichiro’s, in particular the Card series (single malts), they tend to sell out as soon as they hit the shelves. This is expected to be the case with the new blend according to staff at Hankyu. The 46 percent blend is retailing at the Umeda Hankyu department store for 3,500 yen. The price of the 700ml bottling may vary by a few 100 yen depending on where purchase is made, but at this stage Hankyu department store are the only retailers stocking the blend in Umeda, therefore this could possibly justify the extra coinage. Although, staff at Hankyu tends to think that the Takashimaya department store in Namba is also most likely to stock the blend, however that’s only their opinion until confirmed. I had the pleasure in sampling the blend but I will not say too much about it until I have a proper tasting with a decent glass and time on my side.