Chichibu has, in a remarkably short span, earned a reputation that most distilleries take generations to build. The Peated 2022 release is a Japanese single malt bottled at a muscular 53.5% ABV, and it arrives without an age statement — a decision that, in Chichibu's case, feels less like evasion and more like creative liberty. This is a distillery that works in small batches with an almost obsessive attention to craft, and that philosophy comes through in the glass.
What strikes me first about this whisky is the confidence of the bottling strength. At 53.5%, this is not a spirit designed to fade quietly into the background. It demands your attention. The decision to peat a Japanese single malt is itself a statement — it places this expression in direct conversation with the Islay tradition while retaining something unmistakably its own. Chichibu's approach to peat has always leaned more nuanced than brutish, and The Peated 2022 sits firmly in that lineage. You should expect smoke, certainly, but with a refinement that Japanese whisky-making tends to bring to borrowed techniques.
The NAS designation here is worth addressing. Chichibu is a young distillery by any measure, and rather than stretching for age statements that might ring hollow, they have chosen to let the liquid speak for itself. At this price point — £199 — you are paying for scarcity and craft in equal measure. Chichibu's output remains tiny by global standards, and each release carries the weight of genuine limited availability, not manufactured hype.
Tasting Notes
I will note that specific tasting descriptors for this particular release are not something I am prepared to commit to in detail at this stage. What I can say is that the peated Chichibu profile, drawn from their use of both imported and locally malted barley, typically delivers a layered smokiness balanced by a sweetness that prevents the peat from becoming one-dimensional. At cask strength, expect that balance to arrive with real intensity and texture. This is a whisky that rewards patience — give it time in the glass and it will open up considerably.
The Verdict
I am giving Chichibu The Peated 2022 an 8.1 out of 10. This is a very good whisky from a distillery that continues to justify the excitement surrounding it. The cask-strength bottling shows integrity — they have not diluted the character for the sake of accessibility, and the result is a spirit with genuine presence. At £199, it sits at a price that reflects both the quality of the liquid and the realities of Chichibu's modest production capacity. For collectors of Japanese whisky, this is close to essential. For the rest of us, it is a compelling argument that Japan's smaller producers are crafting some of the most interesting single malts in the world right now. It is not cheap, but it earns its price.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and leave it alone for ten minutes. At 53.5%, a few drops of still water will soften the alcohol and coax out the subtleties beneath the smoke — I would encourage you to experiment with how much water suits your palate. This is also a whisky that performs beautifully in a Japanese-style Highball if you are feeling generous with your bottle: tall glass, plenty of ice, cold soda water, and a gentle stir. The peat carries through the dilution remarkably well. But honestly, at this price, I would keep it neat most evenings.
