Chichibu London Edition 2020 Release Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2020) 70cl
1 of 1736 bottles produced exclusively for the UK
The London 2020 edition is the third in the series, and is a vatting of seven casks with a minimum age of six years, with some bourbon and some ex-peated whisky casks in the mix – some of which were tweaked to have mizunara oak heads.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Opening on Chantilly cream and sliced green apples. And then unravelling continually in the glass with an assortment of broader aromas – candy canes and peppermint oil (Blackpool rock), dried reeds, earthy fields and pressed daisy chains. Running throughout – cask-driven vanilla, fudge and butterscotch. Reduction reveal new fruitiness – pineapple cubes and balled melon alongside buttercream.
Taste: The arrival offers a welcome combination of juicy fruits and zingy sweets and spices – apple compote and pear jam alongside cinnamon gobstoppers, Blackjack chews and a strong vein of grassiness. The mid-palate delivers a touch of almost chalky salinity whilst menthol is piped through crème patisserie and layered with rolled marzipan. Dilution once again favours the fruitier aspects of the distillate with underripe honeydew melon and kiwifruit alongside toffee cream tarts and a handful of cough sweets.
Finish: Long with almond brittle, dried grass and a scattering of mint leaves.
About Chichibu
Chichibu is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd., the distillery was established in 2007 and began production in 2008. It is one of three distilleries owned by Venture Whisky, whose principal brand is Ichiro's Malt.
Venture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto for the purpose of commercializing Ichiro's Malt, a whisky produced from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which had been owned by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd., the Akuto family's company, until its sale that year, as well as to eventually produce whisky at a distillery of its own. This plan later took shape as the Chichibu Distillery. Chichibu Distillery was the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government, and its success contributed to the revitalization of the Japanese whisky industry, leading to the establishment of new distilleries across the country
In 2019, the Chichibu Daini Distillery began operations, located 600 meters from the original Chichibu Distillery. Its first single malt, Chichibu Distillery II, was released in 2025. The production capacity of the Daini Distillery is five times that of the original facility, and its pot stills employ direct firing instead of steam-based indirect heating, while its fermentation tanks are made of French oak rather than mizunara.
A unique characteristic of Chichibu is the use of locally grown barley and the pure water from the surrounding mountains, which contribute to the exceptional quality of their whisky. The distillery combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches, including the use of a wide variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This results in complex and refined flavour profiles.
Chichibu whiskies are known for their rich and versatile character, with notes of vanilla, fruit, spice, and sometimes a subtle smokiness. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of Ichiro Akuto and his team are reflected in the international recognition and awards their whiskies have received.
In 2025, the Tomakomai Distillery is scheduled to begin operations in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. It will produce grain whisky using a Coffey still and will increase overall production by blending it with malt whiskies from the two Chichibu distilleries, with the aim of expanding sales outside Japan.
Between 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky, both produced with stock from the Chichibu Distillery, received the World’s Best awards in their respective categories seven times at the World Whiskies Awards organized by Whisky Magazine
In March 2024, Whisky Magazine inducted Akuto into its Hall of Fame, making him the fifth Japanese figure to receive this honor. He was selected for establishing the first new whisky distillery in Japan in 35 years and becoming a leading figure in the Japanese whisky industry. The magazine cited his efforts to revive production techniques that had been fading during a period of industry stagnation, his technical innovations, his multiple award-winning whiskies, and his contributions to strengthening brand standards and improving the quality of Japanese whisky.
Chichibu has grown to be the 3rd most popular brand of whisky although some may argue it is the most popular as it sells out the quickest for the releases it churns out pound for pound with the hardest place to obtain it, being Japan itself.
*due mid Feb 2026
53.5% ABV
70cl
