Chichibu Distillery is owned by Ichiro Akuto and is his relatively newly opened offering to the world of Japanese whisky.

Status Operational

Chichibu "The First", 3y, 2008 - 2011

Bottle No.3159 of 7400

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed (blind) as part of MMA 2012

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: 9ct yellow gold

Nose: This immediately offers a fruity, slightly leathery marshmallow character with the leatheriness gently expanding over time.

Palate: Now this packs a tingly but creamy punch which just screams "jam roly-poly with custard" at me in a really nicely perfumed way.

Finish: Long and tingly.

Overall Impression: This has been a long awaited release in the whisky world and what a cracker it is too. It's extremely difficult to believe this whisky is only three years old with it's generally light character but also displaying intense fruity vanilla characteristics. I'm most certainly looking forward to "The Second".

Chichibu 2011 - 2016, 61.3% ABV

Ex-Hanyu Hogshead, Cask 1401

Exclusive bottling for LMDW

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Very pale yellow

Nose: Musty, almost bilge pumps with a mild fishiness alongside some vegetal notes.

Palate: Lots of tropical fruitiness (banana, mango, maracuja?) but I think it needs some water.

Splash of Water: The nose is now much more fruity and has a mild peppery tingle. The palate remains fruity but less pronounced and the whole thing is a little too watery.

Finish: Long but short with the water.

Overall Impression: It reminds me very much of a non-peated Islay, perhaps Bruichladdich-like with the fishy bilge-pump-ness. It's nice but better without the water, although maybe I added just a little too much.