Chichibu Single Cask #2718 is an elite, private bottling drawn from the Saitama distillery’s heavily peated production stream. Distilled in 2013, this expression showcases the technical precision of Ichiro Akuto’s small-scale operation, where the aggressive seasonal temperature variations of the Japanese mountains accelerate the spirit-wood interaction to produce a single malt of immense structural depth.
The Peated Distinction
Produced with a phenol level of 50–60 ppm—comparable to the heaviest Islay malts—this single cask represents the apex of Chichibu's smoky house style.
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Cask Strength Integrity: Bottled at its natural proof, unfiltered and uncolored, to preserve the essential oils and coal-smoke intensity.
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Saitama Maturation: The 2013 distillation year is highly sought-after, representing Chichibu's formative peated production years.
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Structural Complexity: Combines earthy, maritime brine with the refined fruit-forward elegance characteristic of the distillery's Carter-Head distillation.
Sensory Profile
Nose: Earthy peat, ashy oak, and wood chips. Brine and fresh licorice develop alongside a faint, cooling mint and citrus undertone.
Palate: Elegant entry of coal smoke and salinity. Spicy black olive, smoked bacon, and wheat biscuit lead into a mid-palate of eucalyptus and cigar leaf.
Finish: Long and mouth-coating. A sophisticated closing of smoked honey and persistent peat with a lingering licorice edge.
Historical Context
Cask #2718 is informally associated with the legendary "Cyborg Trilogy" grouping—a series of high-strength peated single casks from the 2013–2014 era that redefined the global perception of Japanese peat.
"A structural powerhouse representing the heaviest peat in modern Japanese whisky."
Technical Specifications
| Distillery |
Chichibu Distillery, Saitama, Japan |
| Style |
Single Malt Japanese Whisky (Peated) |
| Distilled |
2013 |
| Cask Number |
#2718 |
| Proof / ABV |
[Bottle-Specific Cask Strength] |
| Cask Type |
[Confirm: Typical 1st-fill Bourbon Barrel] |
| Bottle Size |
700 ml |
Collector Notes
Single cask Chichibu releases distilled between 2010 and 2014 occupy the highest tier of contemporary Japanese whisky collecting. Cask #2718, with its peated profile and high-strength bottling, is a mandatory acquisition for enthusiasts of the distillery's early experimental streams. These private bottlings rarely surface at retail, typically trading only within elite auction circles. Every bottle offered here is verified for original seal integrity and includes the signature presentation case. Exact ABV and outturn data are confirmed at the time of order to ensure total provenance transparency.
Recommended Serving
This expression is best appreciated neat in a copita or Glencairn glass at room temperature. The cask strength intensity is significant; a single drop of limestone water is recommended to mellow the creosote notes and amplify the natural smoked honey and cigar leaf layers. Due to its finite nature and collector status, this is not appropriate for cocktails.