#79 Yumi Yoshikawa - Chichibu Distillery, Ichiro Akuto, Japanese Whisky, Mizunara Oak, Floor Malting, Scotch Whisky
About this episode
Yumi Yoshikawa discusses the innovations and history of Chichibu Distillery and Japanese whisky.
Yumi Yoshikawa is the global brand ambassador for Chichibu Distillery, the small operation in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, which has become the most celebrated whisky producer in the world. We map out the full picture: two malt distilleries in Chichibu and a brand-new grain distillery that started production in Hokkaido in January 2026, before going deep into what actually happens at Distillery I — the multi-origin barley programme, the floor malting Ichiro Akuto spent years visiting England to learn, the Mizunara oak washbacks and the lactic bacteria they bring to every fermentation, and the switch to direct fire at Distillery II that Ichiro always wanted but waited a decade to attempt. We discuss cask management and work through an extraordinary range of wood: bourbon, sherry, wine, cognac, rum, Madeira, port, IPA beer, tequila and the occasional grappa cask. We taste three whiskies together, including the first UK pour of the Distillery II single malt, an unreleased Double Distilleries blend, and a cask sample straight from the warehouse — seven years old, local Japanese barley, 59.4%, 100% Mizunara Oak — that has no right to taste as good as it does. We also cover Ichiro's…
More episodes of The Curious Bartender Podcast
- #80 Julio Bermejo - 61 Years of Tommy's, Tequila Production, Margaritas, Mexico, 100% Agave, Dre Masso, Tom Estes
- #78 Freddy Andreasson - El Gallo Altinero, Tequila & Jalisco, 50 Best, Terroir, Coffee
- #77 Liam Davy - Director of Bars for 14 Hawksmoor Restaurants: Martinis, US vs UK Drinking, Gen Z, Natural Wine, Mezcal, Pubs
- #75 Dave Mulligan - Is Poitín Ireland's Mezcal? History, Production, Brands, Tasting
- #74 Edward Slingerland - The Evolutionary Case for Getting Drunk, Alcohol and Neurochemistry, Socialisation, Archaeology, Philosophy
- #73 Mathieu Sabbagh - Mobile Distillery, Fin de Bourgogne, Eau-De-Vie, Fruit Spirits, Reviving Tradition
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Curious Bartender Podcast podcast page.