Founded by Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of the founder of the Hanyu distillery, Chichibu has been in operation since 2008. It is not only the first Japanese single malt distillery since Hakushu but also one of the most praised by enthusiasts. The Ichiro’s Malt brand was created in 2005 and rose to fame after bottling the last casks of Hanyu, most notably the highly sought-after Cards bottlings. Today it offers a wide variety of whiskies. The distillery is home to the last casks of Karuizawa, Kawasaki and Hanyu.

Sculpted by Ichiro Akuto, founder of the Chichibu distillery in Saitama Prefecture, this blended malt is composed of many whiskies, perhaps including—as is the case with Double Distilleries—Chichibu and Hanyu, Ichiro’’s grandfather’’s distillery, which closed in 2000. All married and finished in a Mizunara vat (Quercus mongolica var. crispula), an expensive Japanese oak that is difficult to work (Mizunara casks have a terrible habit of leaking) but nonetheless gives the whisky the desired character, with notes of spices, precious wood and incense. Ichiro Akuto not only buys the wood at auctions held every year in Hokkaido where it is often found but has also planted trees near Chichibu in a long-term project that should one day supply the cooperage just a few minutes from the distillery, where the casks are made. Sherry casks are also included in the blend.