18
Expressions
18
With Tasting Notes
100%
Completeness
About
Founded by Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the Hanyu distillery founder, after the family's original distillery closed. Tiny but extraordinarily acclaimed, producing sought-after single malts with innovative cask programs including Mizunara oak, wine casks, and IPA casks. Chichibu releases are among the world's most collectible whiskies.
Production Details
Owner
Venture Whisky
Parent Company
Missing
Status
Active
Founded
2008
Still Type
Pot
Stills
4
Capacity
0.2M LPA
Water Source
Arakawa River limestone-filtered groundwater
Core Range1
Chichibu Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended WhiskyCore
NAS46.5% ABV$80-120
Mixed — worldwide malt and grain whiskies blended by Ichiro Akuto
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light amber gold; clean and inviting, medium legs
Smell
Approachable and balanced — honey, vanilla, fresh fruit, light oak, and gentle malt. Ichiro's blending creates harmony between multiple distillery characters
Sip
Medium-bodied and smooth. Honey, vanilla, orchard fruit, cereal sweetness, and gentle oak. A well-crafted blend designed for everyday drinking. The Chichibu component adds freshness and barley character. Clean and harmonious
Savor
Medium finish with honey, vanilla, and gentle warmth. Clean, balanced, and versatile — excellent for highball or neat. Represents Ichiro's blending philosophy
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Sweet Shop: honey, vanilla; Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, pear); Bakery: Sweet (cereal, malt); Furniture Maker: Wood (light oak)
Limited / Special Releases17
Chichibu 10 Year Old (2025 Release)
10 Years50.5% ABV2025$300-450
Primarily ex-bourbon barrels with sherry casks and ex-wine barrels
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid to deep gold; richer than typical young Chichibu from multi-cask maturation, medium-heavy legs
Smell
Tropical pineapple and mango, sweet vanilla and honey. Orange peel, peach, and bright redcurrant from sherry and wine cask influence. Fruit-forward and inviting
Sip
Rich and full-bodied. Tropical fruit, orange peel, peach, and bright redcurrant. Bourbon barrels enhance the bright fruit-driven character. Sherry casks introduce spice notes. Wine barrels add complexity. Rounded and mature
Savor
Medium-long finish with a touch of white pepper and roasted malt. Vanilla and tropical fruit linger. The 10-year maturation adds sophistication beyond The First Ten. Warm and complete
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Greengrocer: Tropical (pineapple, mango), Orchard (peach), Citrus (orange peel), Vine (redcurrant); Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey; Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper); Bakery: Sweet (roasted malt)
Chichibu Distillery II (Inaugural Release)
NAS (4-5 years)55.5% ABV2025$200-280
First-fill ex-bourbon barrels — lightly peated malt
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light to mid gold with natural color; bright and youthful, medium legs
Smell
Sweet vanilla and caramel with gentle peat smoke and roasted orchard fruits. The bourbon barrels provide a clean vanilla-caramel backbone. Lightly peated character adds intrigue
Sip
Honeyed texture layered with custard, cinnamon, and nutmeg. First-fill bourbon barrels deliver rich vanilla and caramel sweetness. The light peat adds a smoky barley-driven dimension. Young but well-made, showing the character of the second distillery
Savor
Long, smoky barley-driven finish. Custard, cinnamon, and nutmeg linger alongside gentle peat. Clean and promising — a debut that establishes Distillery II identity alongside the original
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Sweet Shop: vanilla, caramel, custard; Smoke House: Peat (light, gentle); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg); Greengrocer: Orchard (roasted orchard fruits); Bakery: Sweet (barley, smoky barley)
Chichibu IPA Cask Finish 2017
NAS57.5% ABV2017$250-500
Bourbon barrels finished in IPA beer casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale straw gold; light and bright, thin fast legs
Smell
Unique hop-forward character — citrus hops, grapefruit, lemon, floral hop oils alongside Chichibu's characteristic vanilla and barley sweetness. Fresh bread, honey, and a botanical quality from the IPA casks
Sip
Medium-bodied. Hop bitterness provides a fascinating contrast to whisky sweetness — grapefruit, pine resin, dried herbs, then vanilla, honey, and cereal sweetness. The IPA influence is genuinely detectable and adds a savoury dimension. Crisp and refreshing
Savor
Medium finish with lingering hop bitterness, citrus, and vanilla. Dry and crisp — more like a craft beer finish than a typical whisky. Pioneering expression that predated Glenfiddich's IPA Experiment
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Greengrocer: Citrus (grapefruit, lemon); Garden Path (hops, herbal, botanical); Bakery: Sweet (fresh bread, honey); Sweet Shop: vanilla; Natural Foods: Herbs (dried herbs, pine); Pub/Bar: Beer (IPA hop character)
Chichibu On The Way 2019
NAS51.5% ABV2019$150-300
Bourbon barrels, wine casks, and Mizunara oak
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Warm gold; clean and bright, medium legs
Smell
Fresh and vibrant — vanilla, fresh barley, peach, pear, and light floral notes. Subtle sandalwood and incense from Mizunara. Honey and lemon curd. Youthful energy
Sip
Medium-bodied. Clean spirit character shines — vanilla, honey, orchard fruit (peach, apple), citrus (lemon, yuzu). Mizunara adds gentle sandalwood and coconut. Wine cask contributes berry notes. Remarkably balanced for a young spirit
Savor
Medium finish with vanilla, orchard fruit, and gentle sandalwood. Clean and bright — a snapshot of Chichibu's development as it matures
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Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey; Greengrocer: Orchard (peach, pear, apple), Citrus (lemon, yuzu); Furniture Maker: Wood (sandalwood/Mizunara); Florist: Fresh Flowers (subtle), Incense (light sandalwood); Bakery: Sweet (barley, shortbread)
Chichibu On The Way Floor Malted 2024
NAS (9-15 years)54.5% ABV2024$300-375
Bourbon, sherry puncheons, Mizunara hogsheads, wine casks, and Chibidaru
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep gold to light amber; rich color from diverse cask types, medium-heavy legs
Smell
Rich and sweet — red apples topped with honey, maltose candy. Brightens with fresh white peaches, peach gummies, candied apricots. Vibrant kumquat and loquat aromas alongside honey and vanilla
Sip
Full-bodied. Apple and honey with characteristic Chichibu spiciness. Big notes of apples and white peaches, candied honey and maltose. Creamy palate reminiscent of condensed milk and yogurt. Elegant plums and peaches from the wine and sherry casks. Mizunara adds sandalwood complexity. 100% floor-malted barley adds a rich, biscuity grain depth
Savor
Long finish with orchard fruit fading through honey sweetness, gentle spice, and sandalwood from Mizunara. The oldest casks (up to 15 years) add a mature oak elegance. Warm and deeply satisfying
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, peach, plum, loquat), Citrus (kumquat), Tropical (apricot); Sweet Shop: honey, maltose candy, condensed milk; Bakery: Sweet (biscuit, barley); Furniture Maker: Wood (Mizunara/sandalwood, oak); Natural Foods: Spices (Chichibu spiciness)
Chichibu Red Wine Cask 2023
NAS50.5% ABV2023$500-600
Red wine casks from France, USA, New Zealand, and Japan
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep amber with reddish-copper hue from wine cask influence; heavy legs
Smell
Deep honeyed sweetness with mulled wine, light tannins of grape skins. Candied orange, blueberry, licorice, honey, and salted caramel
Sip
Dense, dark sweetness — honey, bird's eye chillies, mulled wine, grape gummies, grape skins. Rich cinnamon and clove with a touch of menthol. Between big red wines and port in character. Full-bodied with wine cask tannin structure
Savor
Medium-long finish with rich milk chocolate, cinnamon warmth, and fading grape skin tannins. Honey and salted caramel linger. Wine cask character persists through the entire experience
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Pub/Bar: Wine (red wine, mulled wine, port character); Sweet Shop: honey, salted caramel, milk chocolate; Greengrocer: Vine (grape skins, blueberry), Citrus (candied orange); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon, clove, bird's eye chilli, menthol); Sweet Shop: licorice
Chichibu The First Ten 2020
10 Years50.5% ABV2020$600-1200
Mixed — bourbon, sherry, wine, Mizunara, port, PX, rum casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Rich golden amber; deeper than typical young Chichibu, medium-heavy legs
Smell
Layered complexity from multi-cask vatting — tropical fruit, marzipan, sherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, sandalwood from Mizunara, and hints of rum. Anniversary celebration in a glass
Sip
Full-bodied and complex. Layers unfold: bourbon sweetness (vanilla, caramel), sherry depth (dried fruit, chocolate), Mizunara exoticism (sandalwood, incense, coconut), and port richness (berries, plum). Remarkable integration for such diverse cask influences. Creamy, round mouthfeel
Savor
Long, complex finish with sandalwood lingering alongside dark chocolate, dried fruit, and gentle oak spice. Each sip reveals different layers. A landmark expression marking Chichibu's coming of age
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Sweet Shop: vanilla, dark chocolate, caramel, marzipan; Greengrocer: Tropical (banana, mango), Dried (sultana, fig), Vine (berries, plum); Pub/Bar: Wine (sherry, port); Furniture Maker: Wood (sandalwood/Mizunara, bourbon oak); Florist: Incense (sandalwood); Natural Foods: Nuts (almond/marzipan)
Chichibu The London Edition 2022
NAS51.5% ABV2022$550-700
Nine casks including Cognac, Oloroso sherry, and Chibidaru
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid to deep gold; rich color from Cognac and Oloroso influence, medium-heavy legs
Smell
Pear tarte tatin with fresh vanilla, toasted coconut, mango, and guava. The Cognac and Oloroso casks add a European richness to the Japanese spirit character
Sip
Full-bodied. Tropical fruit and incense spice dominate. The Cognac casks add grape-rich depth, Oloroso brings dried fruit and dark chocolate, Chibidaru intensify the wood interaction. Mango, guava, toasted coconut, and warming spice create an exotic profile
Savor
Long finish with tropical fruit fading through incense spice, toasted coconut, and gentle oak tannins. The Cognac influence lingers with grape sweetness. Complex and layered
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Greengrocer: Tropical (mango, guava); Sweet Shop: vanilla, toasted coconut; Bakery: Sweet (tarte tatin, pastry); Pub/Bar: Wine (Cognac, Oloroso sherry); Natural Foods: Spices (incense spice); Furniture Maker: Wood (Chibidaru oak)
Chichibu The London Edition 2023
NAS53.5% ABV2023$550-700
Red wine and bourbon casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold with reddish tinge from red wine cask influence; medium legs
Smell
Bitter orange, banana split, malt, beautiful chocolate, IPA beer, hops, hazelnuts, walnuts, cinnamon. Complex interplay of wine cask fruitiness and bourbon sweetness
Sip
Vibrant fruit and spice — papaya, tropical notes meet sherry cask influence. Rooibos tea, hazelnuts, walnuts, and cinnamon. The red wine and bourbon cask combination creates a layered sweet-fruit-spice profile
Savor
Medium-long finish with chocolate, nuts, cinnamon, and rooibos tea character. Wine cask tannins add structure. Warm and spice-driven fade
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Sweet Shop: chocolate; Greengrocer: Tropical (papaya, banana), Citrus (bitter orange); Natural Foods: Nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts); Natural Foods: Spices (cinnamon); Pub/Bar: Beer (IPA, hops), Wine (red wine cask); Bakery: Sweet (malt)
Chichibu The London Edition 2024
NAS50.5% ABV2024$280-400
10 casks — primarily ex-bourbon barrels plus 1 red wine cask
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light to mid gold; clean and bright, medium legs
Smell
Creamy vanilla, rich honey, white peach, delicate smokiness. Hints of red fruit from the wine cask. Clean and inviting
Sip
Velvety texture. Flavors of white pepper and cream, red fruit, honey, peach, lemon meringue pie. Light peat smoke adds depth without dominating. A touch of resinous pine and fresh minerality. Well-structured and elegant
Savor
Bright finish with fresh minerality and a touch of resinous pine. Peach and lemon meringue linger alongside gentle smoke. Clean and uplifting
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Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey; Greengrocer: Orchard (peach), Citrus (lemon); Bakery: Sweet (lemon meringue pie); Greengrocer: Vine (red fruit); Smoke House: Peat (light, delicate); Forest Trail: Pine (resinous pine); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper)
Chichibu The London Edition 2025
NAS50.5% ABV2025$280-400
10 casks including 2 heavily peated, primarily ex-bourbon with 2 Oloroso sherry casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold with amber hints; medium legs, slightly deeper color from sherry cask influence
Smell
Mandarin, ginger, vanilla custard, and subtle smoke. The two heavily peated casks add an integrated smoky backbone. Inviting and complex
Sip
Candied citrus, dark chocolate, brown sugar, dried fruits, and warming spices. The Oloroso sherry casks bring dried fruit and spice richness. Heavily peated components add smoke depth without overwhelm. Full-flavored and layered
Savor
Medium-long finish with dark chocolate, brown sugar, and warming spice. Smoke lingers gently alongside mandarin citrus. Dried fruit from sherry casks fades last. Satisfying and complete
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Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla custard; Greengrocer: Citrus (mandarin, candied citrus), Dried (dried fruits); Natural Foods: Spices (ginger, warming spices); Smoke House: Peat (integrated, subtle); Pub/Bar: Wine (Oloroso sherry)
Chichibu The Peated 2018
NAS53.5% ABV201850 PPM$200-400
Bourbon barrels and wine casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with greenish tinge; bright and youthful, fast thin legs
Smell
Sweet peat smoke — not medicinal but honeyed, with lemon curd, vanilla, fresh barley, and tropical fruit. Japanese peat character is distinctly sweeter and less aggressive than Islay, with floral undertones
Sip
Medium-bodied. The peat is present but wrapped in sweetness — smoked honey, lemon meringue, toasted marshmallow, and vanilla cream. Young and vibrant with citrus brightness cutting through the smoke. Tropical fruit (mango, passion fruit) provides an unexpected counterpoint
Savor
Medium finish with lingering sweet smoke, lemon, and vanilla. The peat fades to a gentle warmth rather than an aggressive burn. Clean, bright, and refreshingly different from Islay peat
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Smoke House: Peat (sweet, honeyed — Japanese character); Sweet Shop: honey, vanilla, toasted marshmallow; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon curd), Tropical (mango, passion fruit); Bakery: Sweet (lemon meringue); Florist: Fresh Flowers (subtle floral)
Chichibu The Peated 2022
NAS (5-7 years)53% ABV202250 PPM$130-500
Ex-bourbon barrels
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with greenish tinge; youthful and bright, thin fast legs
Smell
Well-integrated peat smoke with sweet custard notes, white peach, apricot, orange, crisp apple, dandelion, and lemon verbena. Floral peat character distinct from Islay — sweeter, more delicate
Sip
Medium-bodied. Ripe stone fruit and green fruit combine with smoke — peach, apricot, apple, lemon, and lime. Delicate sweetness and floral notes weave through the peat. Hint of salt and vanilla balances the smoke. Clean, precise delivery
Savor
Long finish with peat and citrus — lemon and lime persist alongside gentle vanilla sweetness. The smoke fades gracefully to a floral warmth. Clean and refreshing
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Smoke House: Peat (sweet Japanese character, floral); Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, peach), Citrus (lemon, lime, orange); Sweet Shop: vanilla, custard; Florist: Fresh Flowers (dandelion, lemon verbena); Bakery: Sweet (barley)
Chichibu The US Edition 2022
NAS53.5% ABV2022$400-500
Nine casks including ex-IPA, ex-imperial stout, and ex-hopped cider barrels
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale to mid gold; bright and clear, medium legs
Smell
Icy cool clinical precision — peat smoke, icing sugar, vanilla, sponge cake, attractive spiciness, and a touch of mint. Tropical fruit and citrus from the beer cask influence
Sip
Effervescent mouthfeel with fizzing spices, buckets of bourbon-cask sweetness, sugary vanilla, and a huge thrust of clove at full strength. With water: lime and clementine peel emerge alongside deeper, more rounded smoke. Beer cask influence adds tropical fruit and citrus dimension
Savor
Long finish with smoke, citrus peel, vanilla sweetness, and lingering spice. The beer cask influence creates a unique hoppy-tropical brightness on the fade
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Smoke House: Peat (light); Sweet Shop: vanilla, icing sugar; Bakery: Sweet (sponge cake); Natural Foods: Spices (clove, mint); Greengrocer: Citrus (lime, clementine); Pub/Bar: Beer (IPA, stout — hop character)
Chichibu The US Edition 2023
NAS (4-7 years)53.5% ABV202350 PPM$400-500
New Taransaud T5 French oak, Mizunara hogshead, sherry, and chibidaru casks — heavily peated
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold; clean and bright, medium legs
Smell
Orange peel, mint, loquat, and melon. Maple syrup, honey water, fresh herbs, young ginger, pear. Complex and multi-layered from the diverse cask combination
Sip
Rich and softly sweet with a nutty, herbal quality. The Mizunara hogshead adds an exotic incense-sandalwood character. French oak contributes tannin structure. 100% floor-malted barley, heavily peated, 100-hour fermentation in Mizunara washbacks adds depth
Savor
Long finish with a nutty, herbal character. Peat smoke lingers alongside ginger, orange peel, and a pleasant dryness from the French oak. Complex and evolving
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Smoke House: Peat (heavy Japanese character); Greengrocer: Citrus (orange peel), Orchard (pear, loquat, melon); Sweet Shop: maple syrup, honey; Natural Foods: Herbs (mint, fresh herbs, ginger); Furniture Maker: Wood (Mizunara/sandalwood, French oak); Natural Foods: Nuts (nutty character)
Chichibu The US Edition 2024
NAS (4-10 years)52.5% ABV2024$400-600
15 ex-bourbon barrels and 1 ex-sherry hogshead (2 floor-malted barrels)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold; clean and bright, medium legs
Smell
Fine and inviting — ripe green pear, lemon-zest, white peach, light biscuit-crumb, and a whisper of marzipan. Ex-bourbon barrels lend soft vanilla and honeyed grain. Sherry component introduces dark cherry and subtle dried fruit
Sip
Medium-bodied. Clean fruit character — pear, peach, lemon, marzipan. The floor-malted barrels add a rich barley depth. Bourbon sweetness provides vanilla and honey backbone. Sherry hogshead contributes dark cherry and dried fruit complexity. Well-integrated and balanced
Savor
Medium-long finish with vanilla, pear, and gentle biscuit sweetness. Marzipan lingers alongside subtle dried fruit from the sherry cask. Clean and elegant
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Greengrocer: Orchard (pear, peach), Citrus (lemon zest); Sweet Shop: vanilla, honey, marzipan; Bakery: Sweet (biscuit crumb); Greengrocer: Vine (dark cherry); Greengrocer: Dried (subtle dried fruit); Natural Foods: Nuts (almond/marzipan)
Chichibu The US Edition 2025
NAS (5-9 years)52.5% ABV2025$325-370
16 barrels: ex-bourbon, ex-IPA, and ex-imperial stout casks — lightly peated
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Mid gold; clear and vibrant, medium legs
Smell
Abundant and generous — peach, dried apricot, baked orange, polished wood, rose-scented Turkish delight, vanilla. Delicate integrated fruitiness with fine cask spices
Sip
Rich baked fruit — apple, peach, orange, barley sugar, sweet vanilla, pepper, and clove. Candied orange peel, dried pineapple, vanilla pastry cream, hoppy bitterness. The citrus builds to smother the spice, sweetening all the while. Beer cask maturation integrates tropical hoppy IPA and imperial stout flavors
Savor
Peach cobbler on the finish with lingering vanilla, citrus, and gentle hoppy bitterness. The IPA and stout cask influence creates a unique craft-beer-meets-whisky fade. Warm and satisfying
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Greengrocer: Orchard (peach, apple), Citrus (orange, lemon), Tropical (pineapple); Sweet Shop: vanilla, barley sugar; Bakery: Sweet (pastry cream, peach cobbler); Natural Foods: Spices (pepper, clove); Pub/Bar: Beer (IPA hops, imperial stout); Florist: Fresh Flowers (rose/Turkish delight); Furniture Maker: Wood (polished wood)