Chichibu – The Peated 2026 (70cl, 50.5%)

This is the 2026 release of The Peated from Chichibu, the Japanese distillery created in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto. It is bottled at 50.5% ABV and marks the return of the distillery's peated single malt for the first time since 2022. More than 40 heavily peated casks, at 50 PPM, were selected and vatted together. The whisky matured mainly in Bourbon barrels, with Oloroso sherry casks and hogsheads re-coopered at Chichibu's own cooperage added to the mix. The character is described as elegant smoke meeting almond, citrus and spice, followed by fresh fruit, herbal notes and a gentle, lingering sweetness.