CHICHIBU DISTILLERY AND SELFRIDGES PARTNER

 FOR NEW SINGLE CASK WHISKY BOTTLING

Cult Japanese whisky producer Chichibu Distillery releases an exclusive limited-edition Single Malt Japanese Whisky with department store Selfridges. Following an inaugural collaboration in 2019, only 195 bottles were produced of this single malt, making it highly collectible. The new whisky will be available at Selfridges’ London, Manchester and Birmingham stores and on Selfridges.com from Wednesday 20 May 2026.

Drawn from a 2018 vintage Chichibu single cask, the whisky was matured for seven years in a first-fill bourbon barrel, capturing both depth and vibrancy. Bottled in 2025 at cask strength (59.5% ABV), the whisky is non-chilled filtered and with no added colouring, allowing the spirit’s true character to shine.

The bottling offers a refined and complex flavour profile. Notes of candied citrus lead on the nose, complemented by roasted orchard fruits, honeysuckle, and a gentle hint of sweet cinnamon. On the palate, the whisky is rich and full-bodied, revealing layers of ripe peach and brown sugar, before finishing with a warming, lingering vanilla sweetness.

This limited-edition showcases the distillery’s renowned craftsmanship and commitment to exceptional whisky-making, values which are aligned with Selfridges, one of the world’s most iconic retailers.

Akin to the 2019 release, the label design is a defining feature. Created to echo the theatrical window displays of Selfridges, it draws inspiration from the store’s famous displays, which have long been treated as art-like installations central to its identity.

The Chichibu Distillery, was founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2004 and began distilling in 2008. The Akuto family has a long history of alcohol production in Japan. The brand is known for its intimate approach to production, boasting a meticulous production process and highly sought-after releases that have earned the brand cult status amongst whisky fans.

Chichibu Distillery Single Malt Whisky x Selfridges (59.5% ABV) will launch 20 May 2026 in Selfridges London, Manchester and Birmingham stores and on Selfridges.com – RRP £265

About Selfridges

Selfridges was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge, changing the world of retail forever when the first store opened on Oxford Street in 1909. Now, the brand also has stores in Birmingham, Manchester Exchange Square and Manchester Trafford. Selfridges is the only store to have been named Best Department Store in the World four times.

A landmark destination and social centre where everyone is welcome, Selfridges is powered by imagination and filled with creative spirit. From the in-house cinema, restaurants, bars and skate bowl, to an ever-evolving roster of collaborators and cultural partnerships, Selfridges is a creative playground in which to discover new ideas and live brighter.

Selfridges is home to exclusive collaborations and launches from the world’s most coveted brands, bringing customers the biggest names in luxury alongside emerging industry disruptors. The retailer is dedicated to reimagining the way we shop and crafting extraordinary customer experiences at every turn, such as The Corner Shop in the Oxford Street store, which plays host to a rotating line-up of imaginative retail concepts from the likes of LOEWE, Fenty, Celine, Prada, Telfar and Martine Rose.

Selfridges is committed to imagining and creating a more sustainable future for its customers.  Built on a legacy of retail activism, including banning fur in 2005 and removing all plastic-based cosmetic glitter from its stores in 2021, RESELFRIDGES brings together Selfridges’ ecosystem of circular products, services and activities, with permanent RESELFRIDGES destinations across all four stores and Selfridges.com. The business continues to transition to more sustainable materials and explore new business models as well as challenging teams, communities and customers to put people and planet first in all decisions. This is underpinned by a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

We do not often send emails like this. But Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible just reviewed our entire current range, and the result is the kind of thing we would feel slightly daft not telling you about directly.

Every whisky we make earned five-star recognition. Our Lightly Peated Cask Strength Aged 7 Years scored 95 out of 100, with Murray calling it “a masterpiece from the far north” and choosing it to open his tasting day for the year. We will take that.

Murray reviewed roughly 4,200 whiskies for this edition of the Bible. The 95-plus tier is reserved for the top 1% – or put another way, Wolfburn Cask Strength is one of the top ten whiskies in the world. Five-star recognition starts at 86, which means every single whisky we currently make is in his top tier. He gets paid by no distillery, including ours. The scores are professional, independent, and earned.

The Zodiac Series
Where Stars and Spirit Align

Inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac, we’ve scoured Scotland in search of casks with the perfect combination of flavours to evoke the character and feel of these ancient archetypes. It’s a striking series, one perfect for adding to your collection, or a birthday gift you won’t find anywhere else.

Our second batch of bottlings – the Summer Solstice Collection – showcases the star signs of Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra. Each dram embodies the essence of its zodiac, its character as distinctive and singular as the sign it represents. With The Zodiac Series, there’s a whisky for everyone. Discover yours.

SHOP NOW

$449.99

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Say hello to all five of Scotland’s whisky regions with Our latest ‘Heresy’ release Batch 39: The five regions. If this 11-year-old blended malt Scotch whisky sounds familiar, that’s because it is. In 2025, we released Batch 31: Wandering alchemy, a blended malt composed of casks from all five whisky regions.

It was an extra-large batch and for good reason as whisky quality manager Julien Willems explains: “One portion of the resulting whisky was bottled as Batch 31, but we put the other half back into some of the original casks and left it to marry and relax for one more year. Now we’ve put them together again, to produce Batch 39: The five regions.”

Matured in a selection of bourbon, oloroso, PX, and HTMC (heavy toast, medium char) hogsheads, the Panel called the nose “mouthwatering”. Give it a try and tell us what you think!

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

LESSONS FROM TWO DECADES AT THE HEART OF SCOTCH WHISKY

Douglas Laing & Co. marks a significant milestone in 2026 as third generation Managing Director, Cara Laing, celebrates twenty years in the Whisky industry. The anniversary recognises both a personal career of two decades and the continued growth of a family-owned independent bottler that has remained proudly committed to Whisky integrity since 1948.

For Cara, the business began as early memories of her Grandfather’s world. Casks, samples and stories defined the culture of Douglas Laing. Over time, those memories evolved into a career that broadened her perspective and deepened her understanding of brand building, the wider trade and the responsibility that comes with stewarding quality. Reflecting on that period, she describes how experience beyond the family business added perspective around pace, competition and the importance of earning trust, without losing sight of the principles that define Douglas Laing.

When the opportunity to join the family company arose, it marked a turning point. Whisky shifted from being simply the family business to becoming her industry. It became something she would commit to for the long term, balancing heritage with ambition and legacy with innovation.

Across two decades the Whisky landscape has changed considerably. The category has become more informed, more premium and more global, with renewed interest in regional character, Single Cask bottlings and Small Batch Malts. Yet for all its evolution, some constants have remained reassuringly familiar. The craft of maturation, the pursuit of character and the expectation of integrity. For Douglas Laing, those constants have always formed the basis of its philosophy. To bottle Whisky the way the distiller intended, at high strength and without chill-filtration or colouring. At its core, Douglas Laing is obsessed with quality, a commitment that underpins every cask selected, every Malt bottled and every decision taken.

Quality has been a defining thread throughout Cara’s tenure. Years dedicated to selecting casks, launching new Malts and shaping brand identities have ensured that the portfolio has grown without compromising the company’s approach to authenticity. Trust has also been central. Relationships with distributors, retailers and Whisky drinkers are hard earned in the industry and Douglas Laing’s reputation as a family run independent is built on consistency, transparency and a clear point of view.

Looking back, there are many moments that stand out. The growth of the Remarkable Regional Malts, the international reach of Old Particular and XOP and the company’s ongoing role as a custodian of characterful casks. Yet for Cara, the focus remains firmly forward. Douglas Laing remains focused and ambitious, with an expanding global footprint and a clear commitment to remain fiercely independent.

“I am incredibly proud and genuinely grateful to be celebrating 20 years in the Scotch Whisky industry. Over these years, I have had the privilege of meeting and often working alongside some talented, knowledgeable and unforgettable people. This journey has taken me to new places, introduced me to real characters and given me the opportunity to help build and grow wonderful brands. I feel very lucky. I love what I do and I never take that for granted, even on the toughest days.”

To mark her twenty years in Whisky, Cara has selected three Old Particular bottlings that hold personal significance and introduced a fourth new addition to the Old Particular range. Together, they serve as a reminder of the character of the company. Grounded in heritage, respectful of the past and unafraid to do things differently.

As Douglas Laing looks ahead, its vision remains clear. The company will continue to champion Malt Whisky with authenticity, celebrate regional diversity and invest in the long-term future of its brands. All while staying true to the values set by its founder in 1948.

Our May auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (GMT) Friday 15^th May until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 24th May.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Bladnoch – Pure Lowland Malt (1970s) 75cl

St. Magdalene – 1965 (Gordon & MacPhail) Connoisseurs Choice (75cl)

 Bruichladdich – 21 Year Old (Limited Edition) Cask Strength

Bowmore – 25 Year Old (The Gulls) 75cl

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

Celebrating 20 Years in Scotch Whisky

A Milestone Worth Celebrating.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape the journey of Douglas Laing & Co., my family business that has remained fiercely independent and committed to Whisky integrity since 1948. It’s been a path defined by passion, patience, and an unwavering belief in doing things the right way.

To mark this moment, I wanted to share a Whisky that feels especially meaningful to me, one from a true family favourite distillery. Old Particular. A Family Favourite Distillery. Velvety fruitcake, treacle toffee and dark chocolate, spiced with nuts, cinnamon and clove.

LEARN MORE

Tamdhu 18 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

$219.99

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ralfy review 1128 – Tamdhu 12yo @43%vol: