Chichibu The First / Ichiro's Malt

Ichiro's Malt (Venture Whisky) · Saitama (Chichibu)
Alcohol Whisky Alcohol Growing export

Ichiro's Malt from Venture Whisky's Chichibu Distillery is the most acclaimed Japanese craft whisky, with releases (including the Card Series) fetching record auction prices worldwide. Founder Ichiro Akuto built a globally revered, allocation-only single malt program. Any allocation is a trophy listing for premium spirits retailers and bars. It is exported in strictly limited quantities.

The supplierVenture Whisky, founded 2004 by Ichiro Akuto in Chichibu, Saitama, is a small craft distillery whose limited single malts command the highest secondary-market prices in Japanese whisky.
Why it sells abroadMost collectible Japanese whisky; auction-grade trophy SKU

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsFood sanitation compliance; export documentation (standard). HACCP: not publicly verified. JSLMA 'Japanese Whisky' labelling standards: industry self-regulatory standard (Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association), not a third-party certificate. No halal/organic/kosher certification found.
Pack formats700ml bottles, often single-cask/small-batch, cartoned.
Shelf lifeDistilled spirit — indefinite sealed.
StorageCool, dark, upright.
Minimum orderTypical: allocation-based, often single bottles to a few per release
Lead timeTypical: subject to release/allocation calendar
CapacityTypical: very small craft output
Container loadTypical: LCL consolidation with other spirits
PricingPremium; strong secondary-market appreciation
OEM / private labelNo — Venture Whisky (Chichibu) bottlings are tightly controlled, allocation-only; no private label.
Wholesale & MOQStrict allocation via authorized spirits importers; MOQ tiny, by-the-bottle allocations common
Key exporters & distributorsAuthorized Japanese whisky importers/agents
Export regulationAlcohol import license; US TTB COLA spirit class + state; EU excise on spirits; bilingual labeling with ABV; Japanese whisky labeling standards (JSLMA) increasingly relevant.
Market demandExtreme relative to supply
How to source itAuthorized importer allocation only; relationship-driven (highly sought, very limited).
Verified sourceshttps://www.facebook.com/ichirosmalt/
MakerVenture Whisky Ltd. (Chichibu Distillery)
OriginSaitama (Chichibu)
CategoryAlcohol / Whisky
Available inUnited States, United Kingdom, France +6 more
HandlingAlcohol
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code2208.30
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.