Chichibu 7 Year Old 2018 Single Umeshu Barrel #16109 Shibazakura Flower Festival Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2026) 70cl
1 of 256 bottles produced from a single plum liqueur barrel.
Every spring, in Chichibu, one of Japan's premier whisky destinations, the surrounding hills are blanketed with carpets of pink and purple flowers for the Shibazakura Festival, one of Japan's most renowned flower festivals. This striking spectacle, celebrating the awakening of nature and the ephemeral beauty of spring, attracts visitors each year to admire this unique panorama at the foot of Mount Bukō. Inspired by this luminous, delicate and spectacular atmosphere, the Chichibu distillery has created this edition around two 7-year-old whiskies, each matured in a carefully selected cask to reflect the spirit of the festival and the singular identity of spring at Chichibu. The first whisky, matured in second-fill bourbon casks that previously contained peaty whisky, develops a silky and balanced profile. The peat remains deliberately subtle, bringing a nuanced depth that supports notes of sweetness, spice and wood, mirroring the delicate nuances of the flowers that cover the hills. This second whisky of the duo, also aged for 7 years, is crafted from Concerto barley and matured in umeshu cask, revealing a luminous and harmonious character. The influence of the Japanese plum liqueur translates into aromas of orchard fruits and exotic fruits, underscored by a gentle roundness and expressive freshness, evoking the cheerfulness and vibrancy of Japanese spring. Together, these two expressions perfectly illustrate Chichibu's philosophy: a constant pursuit of balance, precision and elegance, at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, capturing in every sip the essence of nature in bloom.
TASTING NOTES
The nose reveals notes of green apple, muscat grape, honey and cinnamon, enhanced by touches of pineapple and mint. On the palate, the flavours of lychee, plum and guava are accompanied by bright citrus fruits and a herbaceous nuance. The finish, clean and balanced, prolongs the freshness of the fruit with elegance.
About Chichibu
Chichibu is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Operated by Venture Whisky Ltd., the distillery was established in 2007 and began production in 2008. It is one of three distilleries owned by Venture Whisky, whose principal brand is Ichiro's Malt.
Venture Whisky was founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto for the purpose of commercializing Ichiro's Malt, a whisky produced from the remaining stock of the Hanyu Distillery, which had been owned by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd., the Akuto family's company, until its sale that year, as well as to eventually produce whisky at a distillery of its own. This plan later took shape as the Chichibu Distillery. Chichibu Distillery was the first distillery in Japan in 35 years to receive a new whisky production license from the government, and its success contributed to the revitalization of the Japanese whisky industry, leading to the establishment of new distilleries across the country
In 2019, the Chichibu Daini Distillery began operations, located 600 meters from the original Chichibu Distillery. Its first single malt, Chichibu Distillery II, was released in 2025. The production capacity of the Daini Distillery is five times that of the original facility, and its pot stills employ direct firing instead of steam-based indirect heating, while its fermentation tanks are made of French oak rather than mizunara.
A unique characteristic of Chichibu is the use of locally grown barley and the pure water from the surrounding mountains, which contribute to the exceptional quality of their whisky. The distillery combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches, including the use of a wide variety of casks, including ex-bourbon, sherry, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This results in complex and refined flavour profiles.
Chichibu whiskies are known for their rich and versatile character, with notes of vanilla, fruit, spice, and sometimes a subtle smokiness. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of Ichiro Akuto and his team are reflected in the international recognition and awards their whiskies have received.
In 2025, the Tomakomai Distillery is scheduled to begin operations in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. It will produce grain whisky using a Coffey still and will increase overall production by blending it with malt whiskies from the two Chichibu distilleries, with the aim of expanding sales outside Japan.
Between 2017 and 2025, whiskies such as Chichibu Whisky Festival 2017 and Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky, both produced with stock from the Chichibu Distillery, received the World’s Best awards in their respective categories seven times at the World Whiskies Awards organized by Whisky Magazine
In March 2024, Whisky Magazine inducted Akuto into its Hall of Fame, making him the fifth Japanese figure to receive this honor. He was selected for establishing the first new whisky distillery in Japan in 35 years and becoming a leading figure in the Japanese whisky industry. The magazine cited his efforts to revive production techniques that had been fading during a period of industry stagnation, his technical innovations, his multiple award-winning whiskies, and his contributions to strengthening brand standards and improving the quality of Japanese whisky.
Chichibu has grown to be the 3rd most popular brand of whisky although some may argue it is the most popular as it sells out the quickest for the releases it churns out pound for pound with the hardest place to obtain it, being Japan itself.
61% ABV
70cl
