Chichibu Heavily Peated 2014 / 2025 Chibidaru #3520 64%

This Chichibu opened my eyes. I am now paying attention to Ichiro-san’s whisky in a way I have never done so before. Obviously, due to climate, you won’t be able to get much age into any Japanese malt, but this 9 year old is clearly outperforming. Healthy does of vanilla, a ludicrously mentholated caramel and oak, but more than matched by deep coal fires, iridescent black drops of inky tarry phenols, a dry pine forests ablaze, soot and ash on the wind. Braziers of aromatic resins bubbling on gleaming copper. Sticky muddy depth filled with mud and decades of leaf litter compost. And everywhere I look, not a hint of feints or immaturity. 91 pts