Roka – Chichibu Rolls Out Anniversary Whisky
For the 20th anniversary of Roka restaurant, Japanese distillery Chichibu has collaborated with Roka to create a whisky. The whisky mixes single malt from Chichibu with a liquid from the abandoned Hanyu distillery. The lost distillery ceased production in 2000.
Ichiro Akuto founded Chichibu Distillery in 2008, Japan’s first single malt distillery since the 1970s. It is located near the demolished Hanyu distillery, which is said to retain its last stocks.
The release will be celebrated at a dinner at Roka Mayfair, on 9 September between 6.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. The whisky has aromas of caramel and hazelnut on the nose. Along with notes of stone fruit and silver jasmine on the palate.
Chchibu Distillery Celebrates Roka 20th Anniversary
Guests will enjoy the best of Roka’s contemporary Japanese robatayaki cuisine with sake, wine, and Japanese whisky cocktails in the restaurant’s private dining room. Each guest will receive a 200ml bottle of the exclusive whisky.
The whisky will be available in 25ml servings for £24 (US$31) and 50ml servings for £48 (US$62) at Roka’s four London locations: Charlotte Street, Mayfair, Canary Wharf, and Aldwych starting in September.
Salud Spirits, the distributor for Dutch whiskies, unveiled two single casks of Chichibu single malt this year: 7even Gods of Fortunes Fukurokuju and Spirits of Salud Angels Favourite.
In 2004, Rainer Becker founded Roka in London on Charlotte Street, after Zuma’s success. The restaurant’s main concept revolves around a robata grill, known for its flaming performances. During the years 2009-2020, Roka opened two more locations in London at Mayfair and Aldwych and expanded to Dubai in 2020, offering the same contemporary approach to Japanese food.
Later on, ROKA opened a branch in Riyadh, and in Jeddah, it opened a branch in Cascade at Jeddah Walk. In 2021, Roka opened another branch at the Cap Vermell Grand Hotel, Mallorca. In 2022, it opened a branch in Galaport, Istanbul, and The Avenues in Kuwait.
