Chichibu creates anniversary whisky for Roka

Japanese distillery Chichibu has collaborated with Roka on a whisky for the restaurant's 20th anniversary, using liquid taken from lost distillery Hanyu.

The whisky combines single malts from Chichibu, a distillery located in Saitama province in Japan, with liquid from one of the few casks left over from Hanyu, a lost distillery that ceased production in 2000. Founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008 and Japan's first single malt distillery, Chichibu, situated not far from Hanyu, was said to be home to its last remaining stocks. The whisky offers aromas of caramel and hazelnut on the nose with notes of stone fruit and silver jasmine on the palate, and a white peppercorn-led finish. The release will be celebrated at a dinner on 9 September at Roka Mayfair, in London, between 6.30pm-10pm. The evening will include a specially curated menu in the restaurant's private dining room showcasing the best of Roka’s contemporary Japanese robatayaki cuisine alongside paired sake, wine, and Japanese whisky cocktails. Guests will also be given a 200ml bottle of the exclusive whisky to take home. From September, whisky enthusiasts can savour the whisky in 25ml priced at £24 (US$31) and 50ml for £48 (US$62) servings in Roka's all four London sites in Charlotte Street, Mayfair, Canary Wharf and Aldwych. Earlier this year, Dutch distributor Salud Spirits revealed two single-cask releases of Chichibu single malt: 7even Gods of Fortunes Fukurokuju and Spirits of Salud Angels Favourite.