{"product_id":"chichibu-the-peated-2018-release-10th-anniversary-limited-edition-70cl","title":"Chichibu The Peated 2018 Release 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2018) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eChichibu The Peated 2018 Release 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2018) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled in 2013, bottled in 2018.\u003cbr\u003eChichibu distillery is a small distillery with only nine full-time employees. The distillery is owned by Venture whisky, which was founded in 2004 in Chichibu city, Saitama, just outside of Tokyo (hence its name). As with everything else from the Chichibu distillery, it comes highly recommended.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis is the 10th Anniversary of Chichibu Distillery. Limited to 11,550 bottles. Despite the high ABV, the gentle nose indicates a delicately peated, earthy and citrus freshness with a hint of vanilla sweetness. On the palate, just a bit sweet evolving quickly into cereals and malt with some spiciness around the edges. Towards the finish you may find a hint of citrus peel bitterness combined with earthy peat. All in all a very well balanced whisky which belies its age perhaps indicating the quality of the new make spirit from Chichibu Distillery and the vatting skills of Ichiro Akuto.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisionary Ichiro Akuto founded Japanese whiskey distillery Chichibu in 2008, just 4 years after his family's famous distillery, Hanyu, was dismantled. It took a lot of legwork to convince the bank and investors that there was a future in Chichibu Distillery, because at that time interest in Japanese whiskey had been in freefall for 25 years. Fortunately for whiskey lovers the world over, it worked out. Before Chichibu opened, Ichiro had trained at distilleries such as Benromach, Kilchoman, BenRiach and Karuizawa, and the quality was top notch right from the start. Today he is considered the most influential (living) person in Japanese whiskey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe malt comes mainly from England (and a little bit from Germany), but they have also started using local barley, Japanese varieties even, grown as little as 5 minutes from the distillery. Since local barley is approximately 5 times more expensive than the malt from England, it only makes up approximately 15% of the annual production. Every summer, before the distillery is shut down for maintenance, a bit of strongly smoked (50+ ppm) malt is distilled. Chichibu is also particularly known for experimenting with different types of casks, and they have used, among other things, tequila casks, calvados casks, cognac casks, beer casks and casks made of the special Japanese oak, mizunara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Ichiro Akuto's traits is that he always thinks about the next generation – a great quality to have as a whiskey maker. Outside the distillery, for example, he has planted Japanese oak trees, mizunara, ready to be made into casks in approximately 200 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 20px;\"\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose : The nose of the whiskey reveals notes of orange peel and sea salt. Behind it lies peat smoke and oak wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate : The Chihcibu The Peated 2018 is spicy and sweet on the tongue. It tastes of oranges and sea salt. Mineral impressions are presence. Behind it lies peat smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish : The finish is long-lasting. The whiskey says goodbye with salt and sweet notes. It leaves honey and vanilla behind. Spicy oak lingers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Chichibu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVenture 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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBetween 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt \u0026amp; 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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhisky Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChichibu 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e55.5% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chichibu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686753489221,"sku":"00209","price":349.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4372599523.jpg?v=1746547084","url":"https:\/\/b1yyjg-bk.myshopify.com\/products\/chichibu-the-peated-2018-release-10th-anniversary-limited-edition-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation Old","version":"1.0","type":"link"}