Ichiro's Malt Chichibu II Single Malt Japanese Whisky

Ichiro’s Malt “Chichibu II” marks a historic new beginning — the debut official single malt from Chichibu’s new distillery. It is vibrant, elegant, and beautifully expressive, offering refined fruit tones, delicate oak, and the unmistakable purity of a first-generation whisky crafted with precision and intention. A landmark release for collectors and Japanese-whisky enthusiasts alike.

Origins & Craftsmanship

“Chichibu II” is the first official whisky bottled from Chichibu Distillery’s new production site, built to expand Ichiro Akuto’s vision while preserving the artisanal craftsmanship that made the original distillery globally admired.

The whisky is made from 100% malted barley and distilled in new-generation copper pot stills—designed for cleaner cuts, heightened aromatics, and improved consistency. Although a young whisky, it benefits enormously from Chichibu’s unique maturation climate: hot summers, cold winters, high humidity, and dramatic seasonal swings that accelerate oak interaction without sacrificing balance.

For this inaugural release, select barrels—primarily bourbon and refill hogsheads—were chosen for their harmony, brightness, and ability to express the “voice” of the new distillery. The whisky is bottled at natural strength, non-chill filtered, and without added color, ensuring purity of flavor and transparency of character.

Critics Reviews

Early professional assessments of “Chichibu II” highlight it as a remarkably complete first release, calling out its clean fruit expression, refined mouthfeel, and impressive balance for a young whisky. Critics praise it for “capturing the DNA of Chichibu with a fresh, modern touch,” noting its orchard-fruit vibrancy, subtle sweetness, and elegant oak integration.

Many reviewers see “Chichibu II” as an important milestone — a sign that the new distillery is poised to continue Chichibu’s legacy of being one of the most admired producers in contemporary Japanese whisky.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Fresh pear, white peach, honeyed malt, and soft vanilla rise immediately. Notes of citrus zest, delicate florals, and lightly toasted oak give lift and finesse.

Palate:
Silky and expressive. Orchard fruit — pear, apple, apricot — blends with honeycomb, barley sweetness, lemon curd, and gentle oak spice. Hints of white chocolate, soft herbal tones, and malt richness evolve across the palate, showing both youth and sophistication.

Finish:
Clean, graceful, and lingering. Malt sweetness, light fruit, vanilla, and refined oak taper into a delicately warming fade. Balanced, elegant, and exceptionally pure.

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