Chichibu Single Malt Distillery #2 Japanese Whisky 700ml | 55.5%

Distillery #2 is the second chapter in Chichibu’s story. Built to support demand without turning the project into a factory, it mirrors the original site’s relatively small scale and hands-on approach while allowing Ichiro Akuto’s team more room to experiment. This first-wave single malt bottling from Distillery #2 shows how consistent the house style is across both sites.

Chichibu's second distillery has a distilling capacity of five barrels a day; five times larger than its first distillery at only a single barrel as day. Furthermore, Distillery #2 uses direct fire to heat their stills, instead of a steam jacket which is used by their main distillery. 

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is fresh and lifted: citrus, green apple, sweet barley and light oak spice.

Palate: On the palate it is energetic and precise, with malt sweetness, lemon, stone fruit and a clean, slightly drying finish from active casks.

Finish: It feels very much like “young Chichibu done right” – nothing out of place, plenty of personality, no heavy-handed wood.

Chichibu Distillery

Founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the founder of Hanyu Distillery, Chichibu Distillery is located in the Saitama Prefecture in the town of Chichibu. In terms of output, they are one of the smallest distilleries in Japan, producing only a small amount of single malt whisky each year. 

Chichibu’s focus is on using traditional whisky making techniques and ensuring quality in every whisky they produce. They source water from the nearby high mineral content Chichibu River, along with a small amount of peated barley to tie everything together. Chichibu whiskies are highly regarded by whisky enthusiasts, for both the numerous awards they have won over the years and their exceptional balance of flavour, texture and overall quality.