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 132 results

Ichiro's malt & grain

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Chichibu Blended Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$179.99 (USD)

EUR: € 151.19
GBP: £ 140.39
JPY: ¥ 19,084
SGD: $246.59
AUD: $246.59

in stock

A picture of Ichiro's Malt MWR

Ichiro’s Malt MWR

Rated 0 out of 5

$299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 251.99
GBP: £ 233.99
JPY: ¥ 31,808
SGD: $410.99
AUD: $410.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries – Chichibu and Hanyu

Rated 0 out of 5

$399.99 (USD)

EUR: € 335.99
GBP: £ 311.99
JPY: ¥ 42,411
SGD: $547.99
AUD: $547.99

in stock

Sale!

Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve

Ichiro’s Malt – Wine Wood Reserve

Rated 0 out of 5

~~$299.99~~ $269.00 (USD)

EUR: € 225.96
GBP: £ 209.82
JPY: ¥ 28,522
SGD: $368.53
AUD: $368.53

in stock

Ichiros Malt & Grain ‘World Blended Whisky’ Limited Edition

Ichiros Malt & Grain ‘World Blended Whisky’ Limited Edition

Rated 0 out of 5

$399.99 (USD)

EUR: € 335.99
GBP: £ 311.99
JPY: ¥ 42,411
SGD: $547.99
AUD: $547.99

in stock

Ichiros Malt

Ichiros Malt & Grain Premium

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,007.99
GBP: £ 935.99
JPY: ¥ 127,235
SGD: $1,643.99
AUD: $1,643.99

in stock

Sale!

Wine Wood Reserve

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

Rated 0 out of 5

~~$199.99~~ $169.00 (USD)

EUR: € 141.96
GBP: £ 131.82
JPY: ¥ 17,919
SGD: $231.53
AUD: $231.53

in stock

Ichiro's malt peated

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2010-2013

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,091.99
GBP: £ 1,013.99
JPY: ¥ 137,838
SGD: $1,780.99
AUD: $1,780.99

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Ichiro's Malt

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu On The Way 2015

Rated 0 out of 5

$899.99 (USD)

EUR: € 755.99
GBP: £ 701.99
JPY: ¥ 95,426
SGD: $1,232.99
AUD: $1,232.99

in stock

Ichiros Malt Chichibu Port Pipe

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

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,699.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,427.99
GBP: £ 1,325.99
JPY: ¥ 180,250
SGD: $2,328.99
AUD: $2,328.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries (200ml)

Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries (200ml)

Rated 0 out of 5

$199.99 (USD)

EUR: € 167.99
GBP: £ 155.99
JPY: ¥ 21,205
SGD: $273.99
AUD: $273.99

in stock

Chichibu 10 Year Old

Chichibu 10 Years Old – Ghost 12 Series Cask #554

Rated 0 out of 5

$9,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 8,399.99
GBP: £ 7,799.99
JPY: ¥ 1,060,299
SGD: $13,699.99
AUD: $13,699.99

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Port Pipe 2012

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Port Pipe 2012

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,919.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,612.79
GBP: £ 1,497.59
JPY: ¥ 203,577
SGD: $2,630.39
AUD: $2,630.39

in stock

Sale!

Yokohama Takashimaya

Ichiro’s Malt Yokohama Takashimaya Imperial Stout Cask Finish

Rated 0 out of 5

~~$1,999.99~~ $1,799.00 (USD)

EUR: € 1,511.16
GBP: £ 1,403.22
JPY: ¥ 190,748
SGD: $2,464.63
AUD: $2,464.63

in stock

ichiro's Malt Peated Whisky

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ‘The Peated’ 2015 Cask Strength

Rated 0 out of 5

$999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 839.99
GBP: £ 779.99
JPY: ¥ 106,029
SGD: $1,369.99
AUD: $1,369.99

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Malt & Grain “505” Silver Label

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505 Silver Label

Rated 0 out of 5

$389.99 (USD)

EUR: € 327.59
GBP: £ 304.19
JPY: ¥ 41,351
SGD: $534.29
AUD: $534.29

in stock

Kusuda 2017

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Kusuda 2017

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$2,699.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,267.99
GBP: £ 2,105.99
JPY: ¥ 286,280
SGD: $3,698.99
AUD: $3,698.99

in stock

Chichibu The Floor Malted

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu The Floor Malted

Rated 0 out of 5

$929.99 (USD)

EUR: € 781.19
GBP: £ 725.39
JPY: ¥ 98,607
SGD: $1,274.09
AUD: $1,274.09

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu 2019 S

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu 2019 S

Rated 0 out of 5

$899.99 (USD)

EUR: € 755.99
GBP: £ 701.99
JPY: ¥ 95,426
SGD: $1,232.99
AUD: $1,232.99

in stock

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

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

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$749.99 (USD)

EUR: € 629.99
GBP: £ 584.99
JPY: ¥ 79,521
SGD: $1,027.49
AUD: $1,027.49

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Kens Choice

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

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,799.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,511.99
GBP: £ 1,403.99
JPY: ¥ 190,853
SGD: $2,465.99
AUD: $2,465.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Cask Strength 23 Years

Ichiro’s Malt Cask Strength 23 Year Old Whisky

Rated 0 out of 5

$6,299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 5,291.99
GBP: £ 4,913.99
JPY: ¥ 667,988
SGD: $8,630.99
AUD: $8,630.99

in stock

Chichibu First Fill Red Wine Cask Bottled for Takashimaya Isetan

Chichibu First Fill Red Wine Cask Bottled for Takashimaya Isetan

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$1,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,679.99
GBP: £ 1,559.99
JPY: ¥ 212,059
SGD: $2,739.99
AUD: $2,739.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Ken's Choice Diamond

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

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,799.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,511.99
GBP: £ 1,403.99
JPY: ¥ 190,853
SGD: $2,465.99
AUD: $2,465.99

in stock

Chichibu 2008

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu 2008 – The First

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,599.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,343.99
GBP: £ 1,247.99
JPY: ¥ 169,647
SGD: $2,191.99
AUD: $2,191.99

in stock

Ichiros malt set 1

Ichiro’s Malt Set (3 bottles)

Rated 0 out of 5

$849.99 (USD)

EUR: € 713.99
GBP: £ 662.99
JPY: ¥ 90,124
SGD: $1,164.49
AUD: $1,164.49

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu On The Way 2013

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu On The Way 2013

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,259.99
GBP: £ 1,169.99
JPY: ¥ 159,044
SGD: $2,054.99
AUD: $2,054.99

in stock

chichibu On The Way range 2019

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu On The Way 2019

Rated 0 out of 5

$699.99 (USD)

EUR: € 587.99
GBP: £ 545.99
JPY: ¥ 74,220
SGD: $958.99
AUD: $958.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt Japanese Blended Whisky 2019

Ichiros Malt & Grain ‘Japanese Blended Whisky’ Limited Edition 2019

Rated 0 out of 5

$4,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 4,199.99
GBP: £ 3,899.99
JPY: ¥ 530,149
SGD: $6,849.99
AUD: $6,849.99

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu – Whisky Festival 2019

Rated 0 out of 5

$4,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 4,199.99
GBP: £ 3,899.99
JPY: ¥ 530,149
SGD: $6,849.99
AUD: $6,849.99

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu 2018

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu 2018 S

Rated 0 out of 5

$999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 839.99
GBP: £ 779.99
JPY: ¥ 106,029
SGD: $1,369.99
AUD: $1,369.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt 'The Game' Single Cask #1370 Madeira Hogshead

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

Rated 0 out of 5

$3,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 3,359.99
GBP: £ 3,119.99
JPY: ¥ 424,119
SGD: $5,479.99
AUD: $5,479.99

in stock

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Malt Dream Cask “EH & YT”

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Malt Dream Cask “EH & YT”

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,799.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,511.99
GBP: £ 1,403.99
JPY: ¥ 190,853
SGD: $2,465.99
AUD: $2,465.99

in stock

Nikka 40 Year Old Premium Blended Whisky

Ichiro’s Malt – Chichibu Serizawa

Rated 0 out of 5

$3,299.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,771.99
GBP: £ 2,573.99
JPY: ¥ 349,898
SGD: $4,520.99
AUD: $4,520.99

in stock

Ichiro's Malt

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Tokyo Bar Show Whisky Expo 2017

Rated 0 out of 5

$1,999.99 (USD)

EUR: € 1,679.99
GBP: £ 1,559.99
JPY: ¥ 212,059
SGD: $2,739.99
AUD: $2,739.99

in stock

Uniting Nations

Ichiro’s Malt Uniting Nations

Rated 0 out of 5

$2,499.99 (USD)

EUR: € 2,099.99
GBP: £ 1,949.99
JPY: ¥ 265,074
SGD: $3,424.99
AUD: $3,424.99

in stock