Three new Chichibu whiskies arrive in the UK

Award-winning, premium spirits distributor Speciality Brands is introducing three new expressions from cult Japanese whisky producer Chichibu: Ichiro's Malt Chichibu 10-Year-Old, Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II, and Ichiro's Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2025, just in time for Whisky Show 2025 (3-5 October 2025).

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu 10-Year-Old marks the distillery's second age-statement single malt since 'The First Ten' in 2020. Matured for a minimum of 10 years and aged predominantly in ex-bourbon barrels, it highlights Chichibu's signature fruit-forward style. The palate offers a rich texture with notes of orange peel, peach and bright redcurrant, before finishing with a touch of white pepper and roasted malt.

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II is the debut release from the new Chichibu Distillery II, originally established in 2019. Representing a new chapter in Japanese whisky, it captures the emerging house style while providing a glimpse into the future of the distillery. Aged between four and five years in a variety of cask types, this vibrant single malt offers a honeyed texture layered with custard, cinnamon, and nutmeg, before a long, smoky barley-driven finish.

Finally, Ichiro's Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2025 is the eighth edition of this iconic series, created exclusively for the UK. This year's release is a blend of 10 casks of Japanese single malt whisky, all sourced from the Chichibu distillery, including two casks of heavily peated spirit. The expression offers a deeper, more oak-driven character with integrated peat smoke. It presents notes of mandarin, ginger, vanilla custard, and subtle smoke on the nose, followed by candied citrus, dark chocolate, and brown sugar on the palate, finishing with dried fruits and warming spice.

The bottle's label design is the second of the Musha-e Series, introduced in 2024, designed and created by Elixir Distillers' Creative Director Raj Chavda. The striking artwork features legendary warriors and symbolic animals. It also has a textured, glow-in-the-dark finish.

"Inspired by the timeless Musha-e where warriors straddle the boundary between myth and reality, I designed the second release for Chichibu London Edition with a tribute to both history and legend. In this iteration, the noble warrior takes on the Tora, the Japanese tiger - a symbol of strength, courage, and protection. It embodies the resilience of spirit, the power of physical might, and the bravery to stand unwavering, no matter the challenge. The glow-in-the-dark elements capture the essence of energy itself. As photons absorb into the surface, the electrons in the phosphor release their stored light, creating a subtle yet powerful luminescence. It's as if the battle, the power, the legend, suddenly springs to life after dark." - Raj 'Mr C' Chavda

Whisky enthusiasts will have the opportunity to try these limited releases at The Whisky Show 2025 (3rd-5th October, Old Billingsgate, London) on stand 17.