As has been tradition for the past couple of years, the acclaimed spirits house La Maison du Whisky (LMDW) will be releasing a limited edition set of 4 single cask Chichibu bottlings in collaboration with a famous Japanese artist. This would be part of LMDW's 2025 "Foundations" catalogue.

The Chichibu X Kunihiko Moriguchi set features 4 single cask bottlings aged from 7 years to 10 years, and have been made with various barley varieties, peating levels and cask types. The most unique of which is one of the oldest Chichibu single casks ever released to be finished in a wine cask from the prestigious Grand Puy Lacoste vineyard in Pauillac, France.

Labels for these bottlings are created by Kunihiko Moriguchi, well known for reviving the Japanese tradition of yuzen, a 300-year-old dyeing technique used exclusively for ceremonial kimonos. He has also collaborated with notable French high jewellery brands Van Cleef & Arpels and Atelier de Sèvres.

(Source: Le Gemmologue)

This latest series of bottlings from Chichibu pays tribute to the timeless artform of yuzen. For this special collection, Moriguchi-san illustrated four patterned illustrations designed around the theme of “Foundation”. Moriguchi-san describes drawing inspiration from molecular structures in chemistry:

“Many of my patterns are based on regular hexagons, a universally recognised shape that forms the basis of molecular structures and stands as a symbol of chemistry. To design the labels, I created four patterns from eight, nine, ten or eleven regular hexagons. Each image uses the central point of the radial floral design.”

Born in 1941, Moriguchi-san studied in Paris where he was inspired by European graphic arts and developed an immense repertoire of modern and abstract geometric designs. He also experimented with different dyeing techniques, and reinterpreted the world of yuzen with these innovations, blending modern and age-old heritage in kimono design.

“The question is to not only know whether we are the worthy heirs of our predecessors’ work, but also if we have the ability to surpass it in order to create an original work, a prerequisite for true creativity.”

– Kunihiko Moriguchi

Let’s have a closer look at each expression.

Chichibu 7 Years Old 2016, Heavily Peated, Japanese Single Malt, 63.7% ABV

First up, an expression made with heavily peated Concerto barley and matured exclusively in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel. It is said to be complex, heavily peated with a distinctive personality that evokes Jamaican rum.

This has an outturn of 161 bottles.

Official Tasting Notes

Colour: deep gold.

Nose:full, deep. The initial nose is bold, with peaty, oily, spicy (clove, curry) and camphor aromas. Notes of bourbon vanilla, roasted pineapple, tobacco and heady flowers (iris, lily) then make for a very smooth palette of aromas.

Palate: lively and unctuous. The rich attack (vanilla flan) is pleasantly salty. Blocks of peat then tumble across the taste buds. At times echoing a Jamaican rum, the flavour palette becomes increasingly oxidative.

Finish: long, intense. Packed with peat and smoke, the finish starts off with balsamic (cough sweet) and sweet notes (toast, flambéed banana). The rooty after-taste (gentian) shows chocolate, fruit (pear) and herbs (black tea).

Chichibu 7 Years Old 2016, Peated Barrel, Japanese Single Malt, 64.5% ABV

Next up, we have this expression made from Propino barley and matured exclusively in a refill peated whisky barrel. Said to remind one of a watercolour painting, this is mellow with pastel tones embodied by malty, ashy, spicy and fruity nuances.

This has an outturn of 200 bottles.

Official Tasting Notes

Colour: vibrant gold.

Nose: refined, distinguished. Opening with aromas of citrus zest, green walnut and tiger balm, the nose displays camphor and ash. A delicious salinity interweaves with wonderfully pure malt fragrances.

Palate: lively, invigorating. The malty attack centres on fruit (pear, canary melon, Golden Delicious apples) and spice (star anise, clove). The mineral mid-palate (slate) gradually moves further into notes of liquorice and fermentation (mash).

Finish: long, minimalist. The milky start of the finish (coconut) offers its own take on the nose’s iodine notes (samphire, seaweed). New spices (cardamom, nutmeg), straw, pressed lemon and wisps of smoke then rival each other in intensity.

Chichibu 8 Years Old 2016, French Red Wine Cask Finish, Japanese Single Malt, 62.8% ABV

Previous iterations of wine cask Chichibu malts have generally featured spirit matured in Japanese wine casks, or a range of casks from United States, France and New Zealand.

This bottling is special for being – as far as we know – the first expression finished in French red wine from a renowned Paulliac winery.

Exuding a delicate mouthfeel conferred by the Médoc wine’s “noble influence”, this expression is said to be juicy and herbaceous at once before moving into notes of dried fruit.

This has an outturn of 268 bottles.

Official Tasting Notes

Colour: burnished gold.

Nose: refined, complex. With powdered notes (rice), menthol and resin, the aroma palette is deeply elegant, culminating in spellbinding fragrances of candied lemon, almond milk, walnut, vanilla, yellow florals and vervain.

Palate: clean, lively. Juicy (grape, pear) and mouth-watering at first, the flavour palette is underscored by a lovely herbaceous and lemon acidity. Beaming with maturity, it then moves into notes of dried fruit (fig, date, Corinthian raisin).

Finish: long, silky. Revealing delicate tannins, the finish opens on soft chocolate notes. This sunny profile then reveals an increasing quantity of heady notes (iris butter), honey and vanilla. Noble spices (cardamom, ginger) appear on the after-taste.

Chichibu 10 Years Old 2013, Bourbon Barrel, Japanese Single Malt, 64.4% ABV

Here’s what looks like an absolute classic for the Chichibu buffs. Made from Concerto barley that was hand-malted, then matured in a refill bourbon barrel, this expression sits amongst the oldest bottlings from the distillery.

The profile is said to beam with maturity, with liveliness, and complexities of florals and spice.

This has the smallest outturn of the range with 140 bottles.

Official Tasting Notes

Colour: deep golden yellow.

Nose: rich, unctuous. The initial vanilla, fruit (apple, pineapple, green banana), honey (acacia) and herbaceous (cut hay) sequence immediately sets the tone. Next come enchanting fragrances of spices (cane, nutmeg) and floral notes (mimosa, broom).

Palate: full-bodied, noble. The attack is at once tangy (grapefruit), malty (barley) and exotic (pineapple, kiwi). The mid-palate is very rich (grilled bread) with delicate licorice notes. Refined chocolate flavours then gradually coat the taste buds.

Finish: long, delicious. Malty and chocolate perfectly transition from the palate to the finish. Finally, herbal notes (gentian, chamomile) show great freshness. Dandelion notes underscore the rustic nature of the flavour palette.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team