Chichibu presents new expressions this autumn

Award-winning, premium spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding a raft of new whiskies from cult Japanese whisky producer Chichibu to its portfolio this September.

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry, Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries, Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2026 and Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2026 will be available from 1 October to whisky fans across the UK.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry is the second release from Chichibu II Distillery which opened in 2019. Aged for five to six years and matured in a combination of sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels, with a touch of peated malt in the recipe, this whisky delivers a balanced yet expressive profile. Notes of peat smoke, dark chocolate, raisins and candied citrus are followed by vanilla, honey, baking spice, and a lingering finish of sweet smoke and lapsang souchong.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2026 is the first standalone release of Chichibu’s heavily peated single malt since 2022, crafted from malt peated to 50 PPM during the distillery’s annual month-long peated production run. Matured in a combination of predominantly ex-bourbon barrels, alongside oloroso sherry casks and re-coopered hogsheads, it balances elegant peat smoke with gentle sweetness. The whisky offers notes of toasted baking spices, burnt caramel and roasted almonds, followed by honey, banana, cooked apple and ginger spice, finishing with lingering grassy smoke and resinous complexity.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries brings together single malts from Chichibu I and Chichibu II distilleries for the first time, blending the elegant, fruit-forward character of the original distillery with the richer, fuller-bodied style of its successor. Matured in a variety of cask types, the whisky is layered and complex, opening with notes of apricot, peach and delicate jasmine before developing into creamy vanilla and honey, with a long finish of baking spices and citrus peel.

Finally, Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2026 is the ninth edition of this iconic series, created exclusively for the UK. This year’s release is a marriage of 16 casks of Japanese single malt whisky, all distilled at the Chichibu I distillery, including two wine casks sourced from New Zealand and California alongside first- and second-fill bourbon barrels. The expression showcases Chichibu’s bright, fruit-forward spirit, with notes of vanilla, honey, whipped cream and grapefruit peel on the nose, followed by rich apricot and peach on the palate and a finish of sweet vanilla custard and cracked white pepper.

The bottle’s striking label design is the third and final instalment of the ‘Warrior Series’, which began in 2024, designed and created by Elixir Distillers’ Creative Director Raj Chavda. The artwork continues the collectible nature of the series, complementing a whisky that highlights both Chichibu’s distinctive house style and exceptional blending skills. It also has a textured, glow-in-the-dark finish.

“The London Edition series is inspired by Musha-e: The Warriors of Ukiyo-e, a world where fact and fiction, truth and fable intertwine. This interpretation depicts a noble warrior confronting a serpent, or ‘Hebi’, a powerful symbol that represents protection, wisdom, good fortune, transformation and rebirth.

The glow-in-the-dark element adds another layer to the story. Scientifically, phosphor materials absorb energy and later release it as light, but metaphorically it reflects the eternal tension between light and darkness - the struggle of every warrior’s journey. The warrior’s courage, and the serpent’s protective energy, become almost charged by the world around them, gathering strength beneath the surface before emerging into light when the conditions are right.” - Raj ‘Mr C’ Chavda

All four whiskies will be available at selected trade partners from 1 October 2026.

• Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry (ABV 53.5%, RRP £145)
• Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries (ABV 46.5%, RRP £110),
• Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2026 (ABV 50.5%, RRP £192)
• Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2026 (ABV 50.5%, RRP £211)

Whisky enthusiasts will have the opportunity to try these limited releases at The Whisky Show 2026 (2-4 October, Old Billingsgate, London) on stand 25.