Chichibu: how it became a cult classic

The fourth instalment of On The Way, Chichibu Distillery’s cult-status single malt series, has just been announced. 

Which means I get the excuse to talk about a very fine distillery. If you know, you know – and if you don’t, now’s the time to find out why Chichibu has become one of the most coveted names in Japanese whisky.

Why Is Chichibu Such a Big Deal?

Founded in 2004 by Ichiro Akuto, Chichibu started making whisky in 2008 and released its first whisky in 2011. It isn’t a big distillery by output (about 60,000 litres of alcohol per year). In relative terms, it isn’t old either. Yet it’s undoubtedly one of the most revered in Japan and beyond. 

While others chase scale and consistency, Chichibu is obsessed with detail, tradition, and pushing the envelope of whisky production. Where “hand-crafted” and “small-batch” are buzzwords to others, it’s simply the way things are at Chichibu, with obsessively sourced ingredients and a total refusal to cut corners defining its approach.

Mizunara washbacks, floor maltings, and chibidaru casks

Chichibu uses floor malting. This process almost disappeared from Scotland due to its inefficiency and labour-intensive nature but has made a comeback in recent years with distillery’s determined to do things traditional. The fact that Chichibu does it demonstrates a dedication to quality over convenience.

Additionally, the distillery employs Mizunara oak washbacks for fermentation. This oak variety is made from a rare Japanese wood that is usually seen in whisky as a cask variety, beloved for its complex, spicy-fruity flavours to whisky, but also notorious for being leaky, brittle, and expensive. Fermentation time varies between 60-80 hours. The two pot stills the distillery uses were imported from Scotland by Ichiro Akuto’s father and are about 2000 liters capacity, indirectly heated by gas.

Maturation is another area where Chichibu doesn’t hold back. It’s a playground of oak, with a diverse range of casks alongside bourbon and sherry. Mizunara oak is featured consistently, but beyond that, it has used wine casks (red, white, and sparkling), Cognac, rum, IPA, porter, and even umeshu (plum wine) casks. Then there’s chibidaru – signature cute little custom quarter casks, designed to accelerate maturation and add intensity. 

It helps that Ichiro is whisky royalty. His grandfather owned the now-closed Hanyu Distillery, and Ichiro famously rescued its remaining stock, releasing the legendary Card Series – a line-up that’s now worth more than some small flats in Zone 2. The Akuto family business actually goes back to the 1600s, producing sake.

The Return of On The Way

The On The Way series first launched in 2013. It was created to document the journey of Chichibu as its stocks matured. Each bottling showcases not just age, but evolution – how methods have changed, how flavour has developed, and how the house style is being shaped over time.

On The Way 2024 is a blend of whiskies aged between 9 and 15 years and the barley used was 100% floor-malted. It was aged in a variety of casks, including bourbon, sherry, Mizunara oak, wine casks, and the aforementioned chibidaru.

Tasting Notes

Chichibu On The Way 2024 is unfiltered, natural in colour, and very lovely. Think how it would taste if someone distilled the concept of springtime in Japan.

Nose: Bright and elegant – kumquat, peach, vanilla, honey, and citrus peel. 

Palate: There’s a silky richness from the malt, a creamy texture, and bursts of ripe plum and peach. 

Finish: Long, graceful, and full of orchard fruits and buttery biscuits. 

The Last Drop: Chichibu whisky

Chichibu isn’t just a rising star in Japanese whisky – it’s already a benchmark. 

Akuto and his team will demonstrate a simple truth: an uncompromising approach to flavour creates whiskies that punch well above their age statements. 

On The Way 2024 is a whisky that will be collected, hoarded, and flipped. Sadly there’s no way around that. But if you are lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, remember that Chichibu got its reputation because it’s a whisky made for drinking. Live a little and have a darm.

You can buy Chichibu On The Way 2024 from Master of Malt soon, keep an eye on our New Arrivals page.

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