Chichibu Distillery
For centuries, Chichibu has been synonymous with beverages, thanks to its famed artesian water wells, from which many renowned mountain sakes are brewed. Today, Chichibu is also home to one of the most famous, sought-after whisky distilleries on the planet, a generational success story few could have predicted would drive the international whisky market to new heights and the man behind it all, Ichiro Akuto, is thirsty.
In 2008, Ichiro Akuto launched a new distillery at Chichibu, the first new distillery to open in Japan since the 1970s. Informed by his family’s heritage and experience, Chichibu Distillery offers a range of releases, from small-production bottlings to single-cask expressions and special editions.
The distillery uses stainless steel brewing tanks and eight fermentation tanks made of mizunara, a variety of Japanese oak, with a capacity of 3,000 liters entirely made in Japan, and distills in two small traditional wash stills and spirit stills, indirectly heated by steam, with a capacity of 2,000 liters manufactured by Forsyths, Scotland's most famous still manufacturer.
