Chichibu : 7 Year Old Single Cask #14329 Cider Cask Itinéraires 2017

Characteristics and tasting advice for Chichibu 7 Year Old Single Cask #14329 Cider Cask Itinéraires 2017 by Chichibu

Tasting

Nose
On opening, the glass reveals a radiant and refined aromatic palette. Dominant notes include baked apple, fresh pear, and citrus zest, supported by a hint of golden honey. Subtle floral touches and a vinous hint reminiscent of Japanese sweet cider complete the aromatic profile. Nobly present spicy notes, including pink pepper and cinnamon, add to the whole. One also perceives gentian, ripe apple, tarte Tatin, and toasted bread.

Palate
The structure is broad and crystalline. The palate develops aromas of tarte Tatin, creamy vanilla, malted grains, and white-fleshed fruits. Harmonious acidity brings lift and finesse, creating a balance between indulgence and precision. The whisky is lively and tonic, with notes of freshly picked apples, dried leaves, chestnut, and licorice. The finish stretches long and elegantly on notes of dried apple, light oak, and delicately salted caramel, also revealing nutmeg, clove, and a malty character.

Mixology
Unpeated, this exceptional single cask deserves to be enjoyed neat to fully appreciate its rarity and complexity.

An exceptional Japanese single malt refined in a cider cask

Chichibu Distillery, the excellence of artisanal Japanese whisky
Founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto in Saitama Prefecture, the Chichibu distillery embodies the excellence of artisanal Japanese whisky. Descended from a line of distillers, Ichiro Akuto stands out for his pursuit of Japanese authenticity: the use of mizunara oak fermentation vats, the integration of an in-house cooperage in 2013, and the ambition to achieve 100% Japanese production (barley, peat, casks). Nestled at the foot of the Okuchichibu mountains, the distillery produces single malts in small stills, favoring singular maturations such as cider casks, revealing aromatic profiles of remarkable finesse and complexity.

An ultra-limited edition combining nobility and aromatic richness
This Chichibu 7 Year Old Single Cask #14329 Cider Cask Itinéraires 2017 represents an ultra-rare edition, limited to only 219 bottles worldwide. The key feature of this Japanese whisky lies in its full seven-year aging in a cider cask, an unprecedented finish in the Chichibu universe. This maturation choice gives the spirit a unique personality, blending the energy of pure malt with the tangy freshness of fruit.

The distillate was produced from the Venture barley variety and fermented in the distillery’s traditional Japanese mizunara oak vats. Bottled cask strength at 61.4% without chill filtration, this single cask preserves the full breadth of its aromatic richness and texture. Presented in its case, this whisky attests to the expertise of Chichibu’s in-house cooperage, integrated in 2013, which explores a wide diversity of woods for maturation and contributes to the distillery’s ambition to achieve 100% Japanese production.