Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry 2026 - Whisky Review
Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry 2026: Single Malt Whisky Review & Tasting Notes
Time for another dram!
Few craft distilleries in the world command the level of cult adoration that surrounds Ichiro Akuto’s Chichibu. Founded in Saitama Prefecture, the original site proved that small-batch, artisanal Japanese whisky could stand toe-to-toe with Scotland’s historic heavyweights.
In 2019, Ichiro took the next monumental step in his journey by firing up Chichibu Distillery II—a second facility purpose-built just down the road, featuring colossal direct-fired copper pot stills designed to produce an even richer, heavier spirit style.
Last year at Whisky Live Paris, I picked up the inaugural Chichibu Distillery II release (which I previously reviewed here). Returning to Paris this year, I made a beeline to La Maison du Whisky to secure the follow-up: Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II "A Hint of Sherry" 2026.
Imported by LMDW and bottled at a punchy natural cask strength of 53.5% ABV, this marks only the second official release from the direct-fire stills, matured for around 5 to 6 years across a marriage of ex-bourbon barrels, rich sherry casks, and a bit of peated spirit.
Here is my honest breakdown, complete tasting notes neat versus with water, and my final verdict on how this second chapter performs.
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What is Chichibu Distillery II "Hint of Sherry"?
(Production & Cask Details)
While the original Chichibu distillery utilises indirect steam heating, Chichibu II was engineered around traditional direct-fire distillation. By directly heating the pot stills with open gas flames, the wash undergoes intense Maillard browning reactions and localised scorching, resulting in a robust, deeply textured spirit with enhanced weight.
True to its name, "Hint of Sherry" does not smother the spirit in heavy, sticky European oak. Instead, it uses a careful vatting:
The Spirit: Unblended malt distilled at Chichibu II (running since 2019), incorporating a small proportion of peated malt into the recipe to provide an undercurrent of smoke.
The Casks: Predominantly matured in premium ex-bourbon barrels to preserve the distillery's vibrant orchard fruit character, harmoniously married with selected sherry casks that add warmth and dark fruit colour without hiding the distillate.
Bottle Specifications
Distillery / Producer: Chichibu Distillery II (Venture Whisky Co., Ltd.)
Location: Midorigaoka, Chichibu-shi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Whisky Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Bottling: Hint of Sherry (2026 Release)
Distillation: Direct-fire copper pot stills
Maturation: Ex-bourbon barrels and selected sherry casks
ABV: 53.5% (Cask Strength)
Importer: La Maison du Whisky (France / Europe)
Price / Availability: ~£145 / €160 (Specialist spirits allocation)
Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry Flavour Profile & Tasting Notes
Time to try it!
Poured into the glass, the liquid displays a warm, glowing amber tone. What immediately stands out is the remarkable alcohol integration—for a cask-strength single malt sitting at 53.5% ABV, there is virtually zero ethanol prickle stinging the senses.
The Nose
Very approachable, inviting, and layered. The sherry influence is present right away, leaning into dark fruits, pleasant brown sugar sweetness, and a soft ribbon of creamy caramel. Weaving quietly in the background is a very, very delicate whisper of peat smoke. It smells significantly more sherry-led than smoky, staying beautifully balanced and gentle without any aggressive alcohol heat.
The Palate
The mouthfeel has good presence, leading with an easy, elegant arrival. It opens sweet, light, and wonderfully fruity, carrying forward ripe orchard fruits, plums, and soft maltiness. Just as the label promises, it is not a heavy, syrupy sherry bomb—it genuinely delivers a hint of sherry that works alongside the spirit rather than overpowering it. Right on the mid-palate, the direct-fire weight shows itself with the tiniest hint of savoury peat smoke along with some dark chocolate. It is exceptionally pleasant and goes down like an absolute treat.
The Finish
A satisfying medium-to-long finish. The spirit clings to the tongue, leaving gentle lingering oak and faint sweet smoke alongside deep layers of stone fruit and rich Black Forest fruits (ripe cherries, blackberries, blackcurrants and dark plums) that slowly taper off.
Adding Water: What Changes?
At 53.5% ABV, experimenting with a couple of drops of water is always worth a look:
Neat Pour: Straight out of the bottle, the dram is already remarkably integrated. It carries plenty of fruit, soft caramel, and just enough proof to give the direct-fire spirit fantastic weight across the palate.
With Water Added: Adding just two or three drops makes the arrival slightly more mellow on the palate. It doesn't dull the vibrant fruitiness at all—the stone fruit and dark berry notes stay just as expressive, while the oak and faint smoke round off even further.
The Verdict: It drinks so smoothly neat that you certainly don't need water, but a couple of drops make it a remarkably mellow, unhurried sipper.
Final Verdict: Is Chichibu II Hint of Sherry Worth It?
Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Distillery II "Hint of Sherry" 2026 is an absolute triumph of balance.
Many modern distilleries rely on heavy sherry casks to mask youthful spirits. Chichibu has done the exact opposite: they allowed the textural weight of their direct-fire stills and subtle peated malt to lead the way, using the sherry wood purely as a seasoning to impart dark forest fruit, caramel, and gentle warmth.
It shares that unmistakable house DNA with the first Distillery II release, but the gentle kiss of sherry wood adds an extra layer of depth that makes it dangerously easy to drink.
If you appreciate precision Japanese craft whisky and manage to track down a pour or a bottle from La Maison du Whisky or specialist retailers, do not hesitate—it is a stellar dram from start to finish.
Where to Buy: If you want to hunt down rare Japanese allocations, click or tap here to check current availability on Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop, or explore bottlings directly at La Maison du Whisky.
As always, please drink responsibly.
If you enjoyed this review, please click on the little heart below, and if you have tried any of the new Chichibu Distillery II releases, let me know your impressions in the comments below!
I hope life is treating you well.
Take care
