Chichibu 7 Years 2017/2025 - The Chichibu Code (65.8%)

This is a seven-year-old, heavily peated single malt from Chichibu, made from Odyssey barley. It was distilled on 3 August 2017, matured in a first-fill bourbon cask and bottled in June 2025 at 65.8%, in an outturn of 180 bottles. The bottle comes in a dark blue gift box with a metal lock that opens only once three riddles are solved. The nose shows caramel, candied bacon, pine bark and roast beef, followed by smoky spice. On the palate come peppered meat, honey, beeswax and roasted pineapple with a tropical sweetness. The finish is long and umami-led, with a velvety mouthfeel.