Chichibu Single Malt - 6 y.o. - 2nd Fill Sherry Hogshead No #6959 - New Vibrations

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 63.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This six-year-old Chichibu single malt comes from a single second-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogshead made of Spanish oak. The spirit, distilled from Propino barley, was filled into cask #6959 in 2016; in 2023, the whisky was bottled at 63.1%, yielding 289 bottles.

The four-part New Vibrations collection was created in collaboration with Japanese designer Katsumi Komagata. His nature-inspired motifs “Bird”, “Forest”, “Sky” and “Wave” adorn the labels in the series.

Cask #6959 displays a dark, spicy style: raisins, red fruit and roasted nuts meet vanilla, floral nuances and dry oak. Its oily texture carries spice and mint into the long finish.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is sweet and rich. A sweetness reminiscent of Kyoho grapes, strawberry jam and a fresh floral scent combine with light vanilla, oak and delicate sandalwood.
• Palate: The whisky is powerful, syrupy and oily on the palate. Stewed red fruit and raisins give way to drier oak, while roasted nuts balance the pronounced sweetness.
• Finish: The long finish begins with caramel, toffee and coffee grounds. The spice intensifies with anise, clove and bold mint before dry oak, tobacco and wood polish linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Chichibu Distillery, in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, began operating in 2008 under the direction of its founder, Ichiro Akuto. The distillery is backed by Venture Whisky, which Akuto founded in 2004. Its fermentation equipment includes washbacks made from Japanese Mizunara oak, while the site’s distinct seasons also shape its working conditions.

The distillery bottled the whisky from cask #6959 specifically for La Maison du Whisky; the release appeared as part of the New Vibrations collection.

Facts: