The Whisky Exchange ‘Chichibu: Four New Expressions’ – Japanese Whisky News
Chichibu: Four New Expressions
Few Japanese distilleries inspire quite the anticipation of Chichibu, and this year’s releases offer plenty to discover. From the much-anticipated London Edition to the return of The Peated, a sherry-influenced release from Chichibu II and a marriage of whiskies from both distilleries, this collection showcases the remarkable character and versatility of Ichiro Akuto’s whiskies.
Chichibu London Edition 2026
It almost feels like it wouldn’t be The Whisky Show without a new Chichibu London Edition release to accompany it. Thankfully, the ninth edition of this absolutely delightful bottle is up to Chichibu’s impeccable standards, marrying 16 casks of single malt distilled at Chichibu I into one extremely pleasing whole. Apricot and peaches centre notes of honey, grapefruit peel, white pepper and rich vanilla custard in an elegant, expressive and fruit-forward release.
Chichibu The Peated 2026 Edition
This is the first standalone release of Chichibu’s heavily peated single malt since 2022, crafted from malt peated to 50 PPM during the distillery’s annual peated production run. Matured predominantly in ex-bourbon barrels, alongside oloroso sherry casks and re-coopered hogsheads, it balances elegant peat smoke with gentle sweetness, offering toasted baking spices, burnt caramel, roasted almonds, honey, banana and lingering grassy smoke.
Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry
Hint of Sherry is the second single malt release from Chichibu II Distillery. Lightly peated, it was aged for five to six years in a combination of ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels. Flavours of layered complexity are defined by notes of peat smoke, dark chocolate, raisins and candied citrus, followed by vanilla, honey and baking spice, and a lingering finish of sweet smoke and lapsang souchong.
Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries
A marriage of single malts from the two Chichibu distilleries that finds a pleasing harmony between the original distillery’s fruitier character and the newer sibling’s richer, fuller style. A mixture of casks were used for maturation and the complexity and depth this brings can be appreciated in the whisky, as jasmine and peach lead to honey and creamy vanilla on the palate, before citrus and baking spices see out a long finish.
