Chichibu Whisky | Japanese Distillery Online | dekanta

Chichibu Distillery

Chichibu distillery is small, with only nine full-time employees. It is owned by Venture Whisky which was founded in 2004 in Chichibu, Saitama, just outside of Tokyo, hence its name. The distillery, which specializes in single malt whisky, was the first whisky distillery built in Japan since the 1970s and became operational in 2008. It stands on a small hill in the outskirts of Chichibu, a city of medium size with a population of about 70.000.

The climate of Chichibu is excellent for distilling whisky, with hot and humid summers but winters dropping below zero. The extremes in temperature greatly affect the whisky; the maturing period is relatively short while the taste is fruity and well balanced. The company uses water from the famous Arakawa River, an excellent water widely used for brewing. The distillery’s output is around 90.000 litres a year. The equipment used in the distillery was imported from Scotland, as is the peat, while the malt and barley are from England and Germany.

However, saying that the distillery was founded in 2004 isn’t entirely accurate. Ichiro Akuto, the owner, comes from a family that has been brewing in Chichibu since the 1700s. The distillery actually started producing whisky as early as 1946, but production was halted in the year 2000 due to worsening market conditions.

Chichibu-map

Ichiro had always planned to continue his family’s tradition; however he wanted to get some outside work experience first. Therefore, after graduating from the Tokyo University of Agriculture, he applied for a job at Suntory, hoping to get inside knowledge of their brewing techniques. What he got instead was a job in the marketing department, which proved to be more useful than he anticipated as he learned a trick or two about marketing himself and his company. His timing for opening up his own distillery also proved spot-on, as Japanese whiskies were starting to win international awards.

Ichiro is an ambitious man. He is not interested in being just another whisky maker; he wants to stand out. In order to do so the staff of the Chichibu distillery travels annually to the UK where they study the newest techniques for brewing. When they return they use this newly found knowledge to improve on the company’s whisky. They also constantly experiment, trying out new casks, materials and techniques in order to better their product. Many of the whiskies from the Chichibu distillery are fermented in Japanese oak (“Mizunara”) barrels, a rare and extremely delicate wood which imparts a peculiar taste and aroma.

Evidently this work has paid off: Ichiro’s Malt has won the Golden Award in the UK’s Whisky Magazine. Notable products from the distillery include the Double Distilleries, which is essentially a blend of malts from both the Hanyu and Chichibu distilleries. Then there is the Wine Wood Reserve which, as the name suggests, is fermented in wine wooden barrels and the Mizunara reserve. The distillery has also recently released limited edition single malts like Chichibu The First, Chichibu The Floor and Chichibu The Peated.

Ichiro’s whisky is popular among whisky lovers all around the world. Unlike whiskies from the larger distilleries, it has the look and feel of a small distiller who puts everything he has into each and every bottle.

Showing 1–36 of 112 results

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Chichibu Blended Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$119.99 (USD)

EUR: € 110.77
GBP: £ 94.98
JPY: ¥ 17,645
SGD: $160.58
AUD: $182.42

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt MWR

Rated 0 out of 5

$249.99 (USD)

EUR: € 230.78
GBP: £ 197.89
JPY: ¥ 36,762
SGD: $334.57
AUD: $380.05

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Wine Wood Reserve

Rated 0 out of 5

$239.99 (USD)

EUR: € 221.54
GBP: £ 189.98
JPY: ¥ 35,291
SGD: $321.18
AUD: $364.85

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries – Chichibu and Hanyu

Rated 0 out of 5

$239.99 (USD)

EUR: € 221.54
GBP: £ 189.98
JPY: ¥ 35,291
SGD: $321.18
AUD: $364.85

in stock

Chichibu The Peated 2022

Rated 0 out of 5

$499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 461.56
GBP: £ 395.79
JPY: ¥ 73,525
SGD: $669.15
AUD: $760.12

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu IPA Cask Finish 2017 Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$899.99 (USD)

EUR: € 830.81
GBP: £ 712.43
JPY: ¥ 132,346
SGD: $1,204.47
AUD: $1,368.22

in stock

Ichiros Malt & Grain ‘World Blended Whisky’ Limited Edition

Rated 0 out of 5

$299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 276.93
GBP: £ 237.47
JPY: ¥ 44,114
SGD: $401.48
AUD: $456.06

in stock

Golden Horse Bushu Blended Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$99.99 (USD)

EUR: € 92.30
GBP: £ 79.15
JPY: ¥ 14,704
SGD: $133.82
AUD: $152.01

in stock

One of the best Asian whiskies in the world, and possibly one of the best overall. Most people around the globe haven’t experienced this whisky as it hasn’t yet been distributed much outside of Japan. The whisky is quite remarkable, definitely worthy of a place at your next tasting or special event!

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2010-2013

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,079.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,920.12
GBP: £ 1,646.52
JPY: ¥ 305,867
SGD: $2,783.69
AUD: $3,162.14

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Wine Wood Reserve (200ml)

Rated 0 out of 5

$109.99 (USD)

EUR: € 101.54
GBP: £ 87.07
JPY: ¥ 16,174
SGD: $147.20
AUD: $167.21

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu On The Way 2015

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,107.76
GBP: £ 949.91
JPY: ¥ 176,461
SGD: $1,605.97
AUD: $1,824.30

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu “Port Pipe” 2009 Single Malt Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$3,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 3,692.54
GBP: £ 3,166.38
JPY: ¥ 588,208
SGD: $5,353.26
AUD: $6,081.05

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu On The Way 2019

Rated 0 out of 5

$699.99 (USD)

EUR: € 646.19
GBP: £ 554.11
JPY: ¥ 102,935
SGD: $936.81
AUD: $1,064.17

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2018 The 10th Anniversary

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$1,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,107.76
GBP: £ 949.91
JPY: ¥ 176,461
SGD: $1,605.97
AUD: $1,824.30

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu The Floor Malted

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,107.76
GBP: £ 949.91
JPY: ¥ 176,461
SGD: $1,605.97
AUD: $1,824.30

in stock

Ichiros Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky 2020 Limited Edition

Rated 0 out of 5

$349.99 (USD)

EUR: € 323.09
GBP: £ 277.05
JPY: ¥ 51,467
SGD: $468.40
AUD: $532.08

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Yokohama Takashimaya Imperial Stout Cask Finish

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,399.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,215.52
GBP: £ 1,899.83
JPY: ¥ 352,924
SGD: $3,211.95
AUD: $3,648.62

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Ken’s Choice Copper Double Oak American Style Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,384.70
GBP: £ 1,187.39
JPY: ¥ 220,577
SGD: $2,007.46
AUD: $2,280.38

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Kusuda 2017

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$2,319.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,141.67
GBP: £ 1,836.50
JPY: ¥ 341,160
SGD: $3,104.89
AUD: $3,527.00

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt ‘The Game’ Single Cask #1370 Madeira Hogshead

Rated 0 out of 5

$6,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 6,461.95
GBP: £ 5,541.18
JPY: ¥ 1,029,365
SGD: $9,368.22
AUD: $10,641.84

in stock

Chichibu First Fill Red Wine Cask Bottled for Takashimaya Isetan

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$1,599.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,477.01
GBP: £ 1,266.55
JPY: ¥ 235,282
SGD: $2,141.30
AUD: $2,432.41

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Ken’s Choice Diamond American Whisky Double Anniversary

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,399.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,292.38
GBP: £ 1,108.23
JPY: ¥ 205,872
SGD: $1,873.63
AUD: $2,128.36

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu On The Way 2013

Rated 0 out of 5

$759.99 (USD)

EUR: € 701.58
GBP: £ 601.61
JPY: ¥ 111,758
SGD: $1,017.11
AUD: $1,155.39

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Travel Exclusive 2023

Rated 0 out of 5

$899.99 (USD)

EUR: € 830.81
GBP: £ 712.43
JPY: ¥ 132,346
SGD: $1,204.47
AUD: $1,368.22

in stock

Chichibu Cask #2925 Taipei Whisky Live Bar Show 2021

Rated 0 out of 5

$5,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 4,800.31
GBP: £ 4,116.30
JPY: ¥ 764,671
SGD: $6,959.24
AUD: $7,905.36

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu The Floor Malted (No Box)

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,107.76
GBP: £ 949.91
JPY: ¥ 176,461
SGD: $1,605.97
AUD: $1,824.30

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu Serizawa

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,399.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,215.52
GBP: £ 1,899.83
JPY: ¥ 352,924
SGD: $3,211.95
AUD: $3,648.62

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Tokyo Bar Show Whisky Expo 2017

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,307.83
GBP: £ 1,978.99
JPY: ¥ 367,629
SGD: $3,345.78
AUD: $3,800.65

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu – Celebrate 100th Bottling

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,599.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,477.01
GBP: £ 1,266.55
JPY: ¥ 235,282
SGD: $2,141.30
AUD: $2,432.41

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Uniting Nations 1st Release

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,307.83
GBP: £ 1,978.99
JPY: ¥ 367,629
SGD: $3,345.78
AUD: $3,800.65

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu & Hanyu “Gasai” Cask Strength 2016

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,123.21
GBP: £ 1,820.67
JPY: ¥ 338,219
SGD: $3,078.12
AUD: $3,496.59

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Lady Jane 40th Anniversary

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,699.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,492.46
GBP: £ 2,137.31
JPY: ¥ 397,040
SGD: $3,613.45
AUD: $4,104.70

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu 2016

Rated 0 out of 5

$959.99 (USD)

EUR: € 886.20
GBP: £ 759.93
JPY: ¥ 141,169
SGD: $1,284.77
AUD: $1,459.44

in stock

Ichiros Malt Chichibu – Chibidaru 2014

Rated 0 out of 5

$899.99 (USD)

EUR: € 830.81
GBP: £ 712.43
JPY: ¥ 132,346
SGD: $1,204.47
AUD: $1,368.22

in stock

Ichiros Malt Chichibu Barbarns

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,799.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,584.78
GBP: £ 2,216.47
JPY: ¥ 411,745
SGD: $3,747.28
AUD: $4,256.73

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Oloroso Edition

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,846.27
GBP: £ 1,583.19
JPY: ¥ 294,103
SGD: $2,676.62
AUD: $3,040.52

in stock