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Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 50.5

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505 is a World Blended Whisky bottled at 50.5% ABV, distinguished by its high malt ratio and notes of fruit, honey, spice, and oak. It was released specifically for restaurants and bars in Japan.

Brand: Ichiro’s Malt
Producer: Venture Whisky Ltd.
Distilleries: Chichibu Distillery
Category: World Blended Whisky
Size: 700ml
Strength: 50.5% ABV
Age: NAS (No Age Statement)
Ingredients: Malt & Grain Whisky
Colouring: Natural Colour
Chill filtration: Non-Chill Filtered

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    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 50.5

    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505, often referred to as the 505 Silver Label, is a special expression within Venture Whisky’s World Blended Whisky range, introduced in Japan in June 2020. Unlike White Label, which was intended for the broader market, 505 was initially released mainly for restaurants and bars at a time when Japan’s food and beverage industry was severely affected by COVID-19.

    The name “505” comes directly from its 50.5% ABV bottling strength. Another interpretation often mentioned in Japan is that the appearance of “505” resembles “SOS”, fitting the context in which the whisky was released to support bars and restaurants during a difficult period. However, this should be regarded as an association surrounding the name rather than its official origin.

    Compared with Ichiro’s Malt & Grain White Label, 505 is blended with a higher proportion of malt whisky and bottled at a higher strength, resulting in a richer, more malt-driven, and more powerful structure. Nomunication describes it as distinctly different from the standard White Label, while Japanese Whisky Dictionary highlights its pronounced malt character along with a subtle sherry influence in the finish.

    Although originally created for the restaurant and bar channel, 505 was not initially presented as a conventional limited edition. However, Japanese Whisky Dictionary later reported that the expression had sold out by March 2021, making 505 one of the harder-to-find Ichiro’s Malt & Grain releases on the market today.

    Chichibu Distillery

    Behind Ichiro’s Malt is Venture Whisky Ltd., founded by Ichiro Akuto after he took over the remaining whisky casks from his family’s Hanyu Distillery. He later established Chichibu Distillery in Saitama Prefecture, which began distilling whisky in 2008.

    Chichibu quickly built a strong reputation through its small-scale production, experimentation with a wide variety of casks, and particularly Ichiro Akuto’s blending expertise. Rather than limiting its focus to single malt, Venture Whisky also combines Japanese whisky with carefully selected whiskies from overseas to create the Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky range.

    Ichiro’s Malt’s international reputation has been further strengthened by numerous achievements at the World Whiskies Awards. In particular, Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Limited Edition expressions won the World’s Best Blended Limited Release title for three consecutive years in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

    Maturation of
    Ichiro's 50.5

    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505 belongs to the World Blended Whisky category, meaning that its blend is not limited entirely to whisky produced in Japan. Whiskies sourced from overseas are combined with Japanese whisky, then blended and finished by Venture Whisky in its own style at Chichibu.

    The most notable characteristics of 505 are its higher malt ratio compared with White Label and its 50.5% ABV bottling strength. Venture Whisky does not disclose the exact proportions of each component or specific cask types, so there is not enough reliable information to determine the precise structure of the blend.

    Nomunication notes that the increased malt component allows 505 to express more of the character commonly associated with Chichibu: fruit, malt, Bourbon cask-influenced sweetness, together with layers of salinity, spice, and oak.

    Japanese Whisky Dictionary also describes 505 as a World Blended Whisky with a pronounced malt character, featuring oriental notes reminiscent of sandalwood/incense, ginger spice, and a touch of sherry.

    The whisky is bottled Non-Chill Filtered and with Natural Colour, helping preserve more of the natural flavour compounds derived from the malt and cask maturation process.

    TASTING NOTES
    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 50.5

    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505 tasting notes reveal rich malt, honey and ripe fruit layered with vanilla, oak, ginger and spice. At 50.5% ABV, it delivers a robust malt-driven palate with sweet fruit, warming spice and a dry, oak-forward finish.

    Colour

    Pale gold to bright amber, natural in appearance with no added caramel colouring.

    Nose

    Opens with rich malt, honey, and vanilla, followed by apple, citrus, and ripe banana. With more time in the glass, layers of spice, wood, herbs, and chocolate gradually emerge. Some tasting notes also mention sandalwood, ginger, mint, and a touch of dry wood, creating a noticeably different profile from the lighter style of White Label.

    Palate

    Quite robust in structure thanks to its 50.5% ABV, with malt taking a prominent role. Orange, apple, and apricot are accompanied by vanilla, caramel, and Bourbon cask-like sweetness. The mid-palate develops mint, ginger spice, pepper, a touch of salinity, and bitterness. The higher strength gives the whisky a sharper, warmer character than standard Malt & Grain expressions while allowing the malt, fruit, and spice to remain clearly defined.

    Finish

    Dry, slightly bitter, and oak-forward, accompanied by roasted nuts, malt, and spice. A subtle sherry note emerges towards the end, leaving a balance of sweetness, spice, bitterness, and dryness. A small amount of water may reduce the alcohol heat and allow the sweeter fruit notes to become more expressive.

    Sweet, fruity and balanced

    A group of Whiskybase reviews describes 505 as relatively approachable, with green apple, vanilla, caramel, and grain sweetness forming the core of the profile. The nose can suggest green apple candy and liquorice, while the palate combines vanilla, grain, wood, and a touch of sandalwood.
    The finish is generally medium in length, with sweetness continuing to linger. For these reviewers, 505 achieves a fairly balanced character despite not being particularly complex.

    Malt, spice and oak character

    Other reviews place greater emphasis on the malt-driven, spicy, and woody character of 505. Its higher malt ratio and 50.5% ABV allow malt, fruit, spice, and oak to appear with greater intensity than in the standard White Label.
    Notes of ginger, pepper, sandalwood, dry oak, and occasional sherry influence add depth to the sweeter fruit and malt foundation. This gives 505 a more robust and distinctive profile, particularly for drinkers looking for a stronger expression within the Malt & Grain range.

    Other opinions

    Not every reviewer is equally convinced by 505. Some note that despite being bottled at 50.5% ABV, the whisky can feel lighter and less structured than expected, with a relatively simple nose dominated by grain sweetness, cotton, and grassy notes.
    Conversely, others find the alcohol heat quite noticeable, describing the whisky as slightly sharp when enjoyed neat. This makes 505 a somewhat divisive expression: its flavours can be interesting and varied, but opinions differ regarding its body, structure, and integration of alcohol.

    How does the Whiskybase community rate Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 50.5 ?

    Whiskybase: 84.97/100 – 35 ratings

    As of August 2026, Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505 holds a score of 84.97/100 from 35 ratings on Whiskybase. A score close to 85 suggests that 505 is generally well regarded by the whisky community, although the number of ratings remains relatively limited compared with the more widely available Ichiro’s Malt Leaf Series expressions.

    Notably, individual reviewer scores vary considerably, ranging from below 80 to close to 90 points. This variation reflects an important aspect of 505: its higher malt ratio and 50.5% ABV create pronounced layers of fruit, malt, spice, and oak, but its structure and alcohol integration do not appeal equally to every drinker.

    Overall, 505 is appreciated for its diverse flavour profile and distinctive character, but it is not a World Blended Whisky that receives complete consensus from the community.

    REVIEW FROM NOMUNICATION

    Review: Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 505, Silver Label”, 28/07/2020.

    In his review published on 28/07/2020, Whiskey Richard of Nomunication notes that 505 increases both the malt component and ABV compared with White Label, creating a blend that is noticeably different from the standard expression.

    On the nose, Nomunication finds rich malt, ripe banana, dry wood, and honey. On the palate, the Chichibu character becomes more apparent, with orange, apple, and sweet malt reminiscent of Bourbon cask influence. A touch of saltiness and bitterness appears upfront, while vanilla develops in the background. At 50.5% ABV, the whisky feels relatively sharp and maintains a noticeable warmth.

    The finish moves towards dry notes, oak, and nuts, accompanied by a touch of sherry. What Nomunication appreciates most is not one particular flavour, but the whisky’s ability to move through several layers:
    sweet → malty → fruity → salty → spicy → oaky.

    Whiskey Richard gives the bottle a B rating, considering it a good whisky but not an exceptional one. He particularly appreciates Ichiro Akuto’s blending and marrying skills, although he finds the 16,500-yen price at the time difficult to justify for individual buyers compared with bars that could sell the whisky by the dram.
    Nomunication – Whiskey Richard

    REVIEW FROM JAPANESE WHISKY DICTIONARY

    Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505

    According to Japanese Whisky Dictionary, 505 uses a higher malt ratio than White Label, giving it a more pronounced malt character while a touch of sherry adds depth to the overall profile.

    The nose begins with spice and sweet vanilla from the cask before gradually developing towards chocolate-like notes. On the palate, spice, mint, bittersweet flavours, a touch of salinity, and relatively strong malt come together. The finish is smoother, slightly bitter, and leaves behind a subtle sherry character.

    The source also highlights that 505 is bottled Non-Chill Filtered and with Natural Colour. Avoiding chill filtration helps preserve more of the flavour compounds derived from the malt and cask, supporting the goal of presenting the whisky’s structure in a more natural form.

    Japanese Whisky Dictionary records an original suggested retail price of 8,250 yen including tax, with an official release date of 26/06/2020.
    Japanese Whisky Dictionary

     

    The most noticeable differences are its 50.5% ABV and higher malt ratio. White Label is lighter, more approachable and versatile, while 505 delivers a fuller structure with more pronounced malt, fruit, spice, oak and alcohol heat.

    505 can therefore be seen as a more powerful interpretation of the Malt & Grain concept. It retains the balance of a World Blended Whisky while bringing malt character into greater focus.

     

    Not exactly. 505 was originally introduced primarily for restaurants and bars in Japan and was described as a new addition to the regular range rather than a conventional limited edition produced in a fixed number of bottles.

    However, Japanese Whisky Dictionary later reported that the expression sold out in March 2021. As a result, 505 has become relatively difficult to find today, despite not originally being positioned as a traditional limited release.

     

    The name 505 comes directly from the whisky’s 50.5% ABV.

    There is also a popular association in Japan that the numbers “505” resemble “SOS”, fitting the story of a whisky released to support restaurants and bars during the COVID-19 period. This is an interesting interpretation surrounding the bottle, but should not be confused with the official origin of its name.

     

     

    At 50.5% ABV, 505 is worth trying neat first, followed by a small amount of water to observe how the whisky develops. Water can reduce the alcohol heat and make the fruit, sweetness and cask-derived notes easier to identify.

    For a lighter and more refreshing style, 505 can also be enjoyed as a highball with soda.

     

    No. 505 belongs to the World Blended Whisky category, combining Japanese whisky with whisky sourced from outside Japan.

    Nomunication also specifically notes that this is not an entirely Japanese whisky. The identity of 505 therefore lies more in Venture Whisky’s selection, blending and final stylistic direction than in having every component distilled in Japan.

     

    Reviews are not entirely consistent. Some Whiskybase members find the whisky slightly dominated by candy, coconut, or young grain notes, while the 88 Bamboo review describes a fairly balanced body but a finish that is too short. Its strengths therefore lie more in its texture, blending, and balance than in an exceptionally complex flavour profile.

    Source: Whiskybase Community Reviews / 88 Bamboo

    References

    This article has been compiled and edited based on official sources and independent reference materials, including:

    Venture Whisky Ltd.
    Chichibu Distillery
    Whiskybase Community Reviews
    Nomunication – Whiskey Richard
    World Whiskies Awards

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