Chichibu – London Edition 2023

Chichibu London Edition 2023 was released for Whisky Show 2023. It is a selection of red wine and bourbon casks chosen by Ichiro Akuto, with whisky aged between five and nine years, and it is one of 1949 individually numbered bottles. Chichibu stands in Saitama prefecture, about 70km north-west of Tokyo. Ichiro Akuto, formerly manager of Hanyu distillery and grandson of its founder, built it in 2007, and production began in February 2008. The distillery has washbacks made of Japanese Mizunara oak and a pair of copper pot stills made by Forsyths in Scotland. Tasting notes describe ripe mango, delicate lilac and warm incense spice, with honeyed oak, citrus zest and a subtle earthiness.