Chichibu Unveils Four New Whiskies Including London Edition 2026
Chichibu fans have a busy shelf ahead. The Whisky Exchange is highlighting four new expressions from Ichiro Akuto's distillery, including the ninth Chichibu London Edition and the first standalone release of The Peated since 2022. Rounding out the set are a sherry-influenced bottle from the younger Chichibu II distillery and a marriage of malts from both Chichibu sites. Together they show how far this Japanese craft distillery has come in a short time.
Did You Know?
The 2026 London Edition blends 16 casks of single malt, all distilled at the original Chichibu I distillery.
Chichibu The Peated is made from malt peated to 50 PPM, and it is the first standalone release of the peated malt since 2022.
Hint of Sherry is only the second single malt release from Chichibu II, the newer sister distillery.
The Release
Each of the four bottles shows a different side of the Chichibu house style.
The Chichibu London Edition 2026 is the ninth in the series and marries 16 casks of single malt distilled at Chichibu I. According to The Whisky Exchange, it leads with apricot and peach, centered on honey, grapefruit peel, white pepper and vanilla custard. The retailer describes it as elegant, expressive and fruit-forward.
Chichibu The Peated 2026 Edition comes from malt peated to 50 PPM during the distillery's annual peated production run. PPM means parts per million of phenols, the compounds behind smoky flavor, so 50 is firmly in heavily peated territory. It matured mainly in ex-bourbon barrels, along with oloroso sherry casks and re-coopered hogsheads (larger casks that have been rebuilt with some replacement wood). The Whisky Exchange points to toasted baking spices, burnt caramel, roasted almonds, honey, banana and lingering grassy smoke.
Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry is lightly peated and spent five to six years in a mix of ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels. Tasting notes include peat smoke, dark chocolate, raisins and candied citrus, then vanilla, honey and baking spice. The finish carries sweet smoke and lapsang souchong, a smoky Chinese black tea.
Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries blends single malts from both Chichibu distilleries. The idea is to pair the original distillery's fruitier character with the richer, fuller style of the newer one. A mix of casks was used. The retailer notes jasmine and peach, then honey and creamy vanilla on the palate, and a long finish of citrus and baking spices.
The Story of Chichibu
Chichibu sits in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is 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 main brand is Ichiro's Malt.
Venture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto, who was born in Chichibu in 1965 into the Akuto family. He started the company to sell Ichiro's Malt, made from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which the family's company, Toa Shuzo, had owned until it was sold that year. The long-term plan was always to make whisky at a distillery of his own.
Chichibu became the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government. Its success is credited with helping revive Japanese whisky and inspiring new distilleries across the country.
Why It Stands Out
This set covers a lot of ground: a fruity multi-cask single malt, a peated return, a sherry-leaning young malt from Chichibu II, and a blend of both distilleries. The Double Distilleries bottle and Hint of Sherry also give a look at how the newer Chichibu II stock is shaping up alongside the original distillery.
The Details
Style: Japanese single malt whisky (four expressions)
Chichibu London Edition 2026: ninth edition, 16 casks, all from Chichibu I
Chichibu The Peated 2026 Edition: malt peated to 50 PPM; ex-bourbon barrels, oloroso sherry casks and re-coopered hogsheads
Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry: lightly peated; aged five to six years in ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels
Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries: marriage of malts from both Chichibu distilleries, mixed casks
Availability: Highlighted by The Whisky Exchange
US Availability: No US release has been announced in the sources
Tonights Poison Take
Chichibu releases tend to draw a crowd, and this lineup gives drinkers plenty of choice. Collectors will likely watch the London Edition and the returning Peated, while the Chichibu II bottle is a good chance to follow the younger distillery's progress. Pricing and exact bottling strengths were not included in the announcement, so keep an eye on the retailer's listings.
Bar Talk: Chichibu was the first new whisky distillery license Japan had granted in 35 years, and now it is releasing bottles from two distilleries.
Send this to the Japanese whisky fan in your group chat, and tell us which of the four you would open first.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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