Chichibu Brings Four New Releases to the UK for The Whisky Show 2026

Chichibu Brings Four New Releases to the UK

Japanese whisky producer Chichibu is bringing four new Ichiro's Malt releases to the UK this autumn: 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. Speciality Brands will distribute all four whiskies, which reach selected UK specialist retailers from 1 October 2026.

The releases arrive in time for The Whisky Show 2026 in London, where all four can be sampled. Together they include the second release from the newer Chichibu II distillery, the first bottling to combine both Chichibu distilleries, the first standalone heavily peated release since 2022, and the ninth edition of a series made only for the UK.

What Makes Chichibu Special

Chichibu was founded by Ichiro Akuto, whose family has distilling roots dating back to 1625. Akuto first became known for the Hanyu Card Series, which revived his family's whisky heritage, before his Chichibu Distillery in Saitama prefecture began distilling in 2008. Its first single malt, Chichibu The First, followed in 2011, and demand for the distillery's whiskies has outpaced supply ever since.

Much of the work happens in house. Akuto runs a small maltings, a cooperage and a bottling line, and casks mature in dunnage warehouses. The original distillery also took the unusual step of installing washbacks made of Japanese mizunara oak, and it distils in small, steam heated, straight necked pot stills made by Forsyths in Scotland.

In October 2019, a second distillery, Chichibu II, began distilling nearby. It was built to produce four to five times more spirit than the original. Its washbacks are made of French oak, and its larger Forsyths pot stills are heated directly by gas, a traditional method understood to create more complex flavors. The original distillery now works increasingly as an experimental site, where Akuto can run distillation trials before scaling them up at Chichibu II.

Hint of Sherry, Double Distilleries and The Peated 2026

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry is the second release from Chichibu II. It was aged for five to six years in a combination of sherry casks and ex bourbon barrels, and its recipe includes a touch of peated malt. Bottled at 53.5% ABV, it is described with notes of peat smoke, dark chocolate, raisins and candied citrus, followed by vanilla, honey and baking spice, and a lingering finish of sweet smoke and lapsang souchong.

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries brings together single malts from Chichibu I and Chichibu II for the first time. Matured in a variety of cask types and bottled at 46.5% ABV, it pairs the elegant, fruit forward character of the original distillery with the richer, fuller bodied style of its successor. The official notes open with apricot, peach and delicate jasmine, develop into creamy vanilla and honey, and end on a long finish of baking spices and citrus peel.

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu The Peated 2026 is the first standalone release of Chichibu's heavily peated single malt since 2022. It was made from malt peated to 50 ppm during the distillery's annual month long peated production run, then matured mostly in ex bourbon barrels, alongside Oloroso sherry casks and recoopered hogsheads. Bottled at 50.5% ABV, it is said to offer toasted baking spices, burnt caramel and roasted almonds, then honey, banana, cooked apple and ginger spice, before a lingering finish of grassy smoke and resinous complexity.

The London Edition 2026 and the Warrior Series

Ichiro's Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2026 is the ninth edition of a series created exclusively for the UK. This year's release is a marriage of 16 casks of single malt, all distilled at Chichibu I, including two wine casks sourced from New Zealand and California alongside first and second fill bourbon barrels. Bottled at 50.5% ABV, it shows Chichibu's bright, fruit forward spirit, with vanilla, honey, whipped cream and grapefruit peel on the nose, rich apricot and peach on the palate, and a finish of sweet vanilla custard and cracked white pepper.

The label is the third and final installment of the Warrior Series, which began in 2024. It was designed by Raj Chavda, Creative Director at Elixir Distillers, and has a textured finish that glows in the dark.

"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."

Tasting the Releases at The Whisky Show 2026

All four whiskies can be sampled at The Whisky Show 2026, presented by The Whisky Exchange, from 2 to 4 October at Old Billingsgate in London. The Chichibu releases can be found at stand 25.

This year the show brings together more than 120 exhibitors from across the globe and over 1,000 whiskies and other spirits to sample. Visitors can explore immersive country zones, free demonstrations and talks on the main stage, masterclasses, and a new Old and Rare zone for historic bottlings. Every ticket includes a Dream Dram token, which can be exchanged for a pour of a whisky costing roughly €580 to €1,170 per bottle.

The venue has its own history. Built in 1875 on the north bank of the Thames, Old Billingsgate once housed Billingsgate Market, formerly the world's largest fish market, and is now an event space. The show runs from 16:00 to 21:00 on Friday 2 October and from 11:30 to 18:00 on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October.

Release and Availability

The four releases reach selected UK specialist retailers from 1 October 2026 through Speciality Brands. Their recommended UK retail prices convert to roughly €128 for Double Distilleries, €169 for Hint of Sherry, €224 for The Peated 2026 and €245 for The London Edition 2026.

They join a wide range of Chichibu bottlings on Spiritory, including the Chichibu Taiwan Edition 2025. For more on the distillery, read our profile Chichibu Distillery: Japan's Rising Whisky Star, or our recent news on Chichibu Ichiro's Malt & Grain Ume Drift by Spirits of Salud.

The 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 on Spiritory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of the four new Chichibu releases is the best place to start?

Double Distilleries is a natural first step. It combines the fruit forward style of Chichibu I with the fuller bodied spirit of Chichibu II, and it has the lowest recommended UK price of the four, roughly €128.

How is Chichibu II different from the original distillery?

Chichibu II was built to make four to five times more spirit, with French oak washbacks and larger pot stills heated directly by gas. The original distillery uses mizunara oak washbacks and small steam heated stills.

Why is The London Edition 2026 interesting for collectors?

It is the ninth edition of a series made only for the UK, and its glow in the dark label completes the three part Warrior Series designed by Raj Chavda of Elixir Distillers.

Where can I taste the new releases first?

All four can be sampled at stand 25 at The Whisky Show 2026, held from 2 to 4 October at Old Billingsgate in London.