Japanese whisky fans would probably already be familiar with news of the cult favourite Chichibu having sought to expand its production with a second distillery, which was to be aptly named Chichibu Distillery 2.

Having established itself first in 2008 by founder Ichiro Akuto, originally as a bid to save his grandfather's whisky casks from the shuttered Hanyu Distillery, it would make its 2011 debut with the Chichibu The First expression that broke into the market and gave Japan and the world a taste of Japanese craft whisky after decades of lull. Chichibu has since gone on a massive upward trajectory which has seen it achieve the sort of success that any whisky distillery - nay, any drinks maker - can only dream of! And with its success as a craft whisky distillery having fought the odds in Japan, it has inspired a whole new generation of whisky producers that are today boldly taking their turn to make their debut - in fact, distilleries from all over the world have readily proclaimed having drawn inspiration from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu story.

Founder Ichiro Akuto and brand ambassador Yumi Yoshikawa.

The story is a remarkable one that has proved to be the shot heard around the world. In the decade following its debut release, Chichibu single casks have become some of the most collectible whiskies in the world, and are easily the favourites of most whisky lovers - and yet, the distillery has hardly a flagship line of signature releases to call its own, with most of its whiskies being bottled for single cask buyers instead. Each year, fans eagerly await but a trickle of limited edition distillery bottlings (OBs, Original Bottling) which was as much as the comparatively much smaller craft distillery could handle given the staggering worldwide demand.

Chichibu Distillery 1 - the OG.

And so the natural conclusion that was made was to start a second distillery - Chichibu Distillery 2. Located just down several minutes from the first distillery, the new distillery was designed to not just boost production, but to add more variety in the styles of whisky that could be produced and blended with, as well as to use the expanded resources to do more experimentation - pretty much fulfill all the big dreams that were had in the decade since the team was able to first put together whatever was possible to make the original distillery. Chichibu Distillery 2 was announced in 2019 and has been fitted out with direct fired distillation and French oak washbacks amongst numerous changes from the first distillery.

Chichibu Distillery 2.

Whilst the wait has been long - it seems like it is also finally over. Not one to cut corners, Chichibu Distillery 2 is already sitting on whiskies that are 5 years old - well above the 3 year old requirement to qualify as Japanese single malt whisky - which seem to now meet their high standards for being ready to be given a debut.

Thus we have Chichibu Distillery II's first ever Single Malt Japanese Whisky! This is the first official expression that's made fully with whiskies from Chichibu Distillery 2.

The back label reads

A new chapter of history has begun in Chichibu. In 2019 surrounded by mountains in the northwest of the Saitama Prefecture, Chichibu II Distillery marked the next step. Tradition, innovation, inheritance and progression working in harmony and creating high hopes for the future. With a rich, full-bodied taste and a lustrous fruity aroma created by traditionally direct fired pot stills. The single malt whisky from Chichibu II Distillery offers the pleasure of savoring the journey of time and growth. Take your time to enjoy it while sensing the future.

With the tagline "The distillery, where traditional meets the future, one drop at a time.", Chichibu Distillery II Single Malt Japanese Whisky is to be bottled at 55.5% ABV (a favourite proof level of Ichiro's).

What a moment!

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team