The Whisky Exchange “A Spotlight on Chichibu Distillery” – Japanese Whisky News
A GUIDE TO CHICHIBU
For lovers of Japanese whisky, Chichibu needs no introduction. The distillery was founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008 and has since become a benchmark for the next generation of Japanese distilling. Chichibu traces back to the Akuto family’s sake brewery, founded in 1625, combining centuries of experience with a modern approach. Ichiro carefully selects barley, experiments with fermentation, and ages the spirit in a range of casks – from bourbon and sherry to IPA and mizunara oak – producing releases with distinct flavours while keeping the distillery’s signature balance and precision. Ichiro is known for his love of mizunara oak, giving his whiskies their distinctive flavours of incense and spice. He bids at auctions each year to source the wood and even makes washbacks from mizunara.
