Chichibu : Heavily Peated Bourbon Barrel 1st Fill 2017

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Chichibu Heavily Peated Bourbon Barrel 1st Fill 2017

Tasting

Appearance

This whisky displays a deep golden yellow hue.

Nose

The nose is rich and expansive. Oily, fatty, earthy peat asserts itself first, over saline, iodine-laden notes reminiscent of sea spray. With aeration, chocolate, spices (nutmeg, clove) and medicinal notes (camphor, gum arabic) emerge, further heightening the sense of power.

Palate

The attack is lively and full-bodied, citrusy at first. Compact blocks of peat then spread across the entire palate. This peat becomes more pastoral, with hints of dandelion, and takes on a mineral edge. Creamy, liqueur-like and fruity flavours take over, with acacia honey and pineapple. The finish, smooth and dense, unfolds animal notes (bacon, smoked fat), empyreumatic notes (soot, lava), root-like notes (ginger, radish) and chocolatey notes. The peat gains in unctuousness and indulgence. The retronasal impression is vanilla-laced and deeply malty (porridge).

Pairings and Tasting Occasions

Bottled at 63.9%, this single cask whisky is best enjoyed neat. The nose benefits from being left to breathe, which reveals the chocolate, spices and medicinal notes.

Mixology

With its natural strength and powerful character, this exceptional whisky is best enjoyed without embellishment, in order to preserve all of its complexity.

Other Characteristics

This whisky is heavily peated. It is made from Concerto barley and was aged for eight years in a first-fill bourbon barrel (2017 vintage). It is presented in a gift box, in a 0.7 L bottle.

A Rich, Profound and Heavily Peated Japanese Whisky by Chichibu

Chichibu, a Craft Japanese Whisky Distillery in Saitama

Founded by Ichiro Akuto, the Chichibu distillery began production in 2008. It is located in Chichibu, in Saitama Prefecture on the island of Honshū, and belongs to Venture Whisky, a company founded and run by Ichiro Akuto. He comes from a family of sake producers whose activity dates back to 1625. Everything is produced on site, with the ambition of creating a 100% Japanese whisky: some cuvées will soon use local barley, local peat and Japanese oak. Fermentation takes place in mizunara vats, made from Japanese oak, and distillation in small stills. A second distillery, Chichibu II, is equipped with direct-fired stills, said to bring richness, structure and depth.

Chichibu 8 Years Old 2017, Cask No. 8253: a Peated Malt Whisky in a First-Fill Bourbon Barrel

This Heavily Peated Bourbon Barrel 1st Fill 2017 is a single cask whisky from cask no. 8253. It was distilled in 2017 from heavily peated Concerto barley, then aged for eight years in a first-fill bourbon barrel. This wood imparted vanilla and a roundness to the distillate that complement the smoke.

The whisky is bottled at its natural strength of 63.9%.

Its style is dominated by an omnipresent peat, reminiscent of Laphroaig. Its exotic, chocolatey, honeyed, vanilla and spicy notes place it alongside the finest Islay single malts.