Bottled under the name Chichibu Golden Horse, the counterpart predates distillery whisky production by a considerable length of time. As it was distilled by Toa Shuzo Co Ltd that would imply that this has some Hanyu within the blend, a distillery that has been silent for a number of years. This whisky has been named as one of the best Asian whiskies in the world. About Toa Shuzo Toashuzo started the business in 1625, as a sake producer in Chichibu City. In 1941 the company moved to Hanyu city where its office is located today. They have been making liquors for more than three centuries. For sake business, they own such brands as Haregiku, Kamino-Izumi, Miyako-Homare, all of which are quite popular. As for the whisky, the history goes back to 1946, when they obtained the license for whisky production. They built a new pot still in the mid 1980s, and have produced whisky under the brand name of Golden Horse. Since 2004 Toashuzo has been part of the King Jozo Group, and in 2016 they restarted the whisky business with Bushu and Musashi. Nose: Fresh with lemongrass, followed by floral hints. Gradually develops into dried floral hints. With water hints of honey develop. Taste: Very clear mouthfeel. Rich malty hints with honey and lemon hard candy. The finish is slightly spicy and has hints of jasmine tea. With water, sweetness develops.