Chichibu Paris Edition 2025 - Le Marais Single Malt Japanese Whisky

Chichibu Paris Edition 2025 – Le Marais Single Malt Japanese Whisky is an exceptional limited release from one of Japan’s most sought-after modern whisky distilleries. Created as part of Chichibu’s annual Paris Edition series, the 2025 release celebrates the cultural connection between Paris and Tokyo through six distinctive labels inspired by iconic neighbourhoods of the two cities. The Le Marais edition pays tribute to one of Paris’ most historic and creative districts, presented through a colourful postage stamp-inspired design that makes this release as collectible visually as it is compelling in the glass.

Distillery: Chichibu Distillery
Bottler: Official Distillery Bottling
Series: Ichiro’s Malt – Paris Edition 2025
Edition: Le Marais
ABV: 50.5%
Age of Components: 5–14 Years Old
Casks: 17 Casks
Cask Types: Bourbon, Heavily Peated Bourbon, New French Oak, Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine, Spanish Oak Sherry & American Oak Hogshead
Outturn: 2,484 Bottles

Founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008, Chichibu has rapidly established itself as one of the defining names of modern Japanese whisky. Despite its relatively small scale, the distillery has developed an extraordinary international following through meticulous production, experimentation with different oak types and an uncompromising focus on quality. The Paris Edition series has been produced since 2018 and has become particularly sought after amongst enthusiasts and collectors. For the 2025 release, Chichibu brought together 17 individual casks: four new French oak casks, one Spanish oak sherry cask, three ex-Bordeaux red wine casks, one American oak hogshead, six bourbon barrels and two bourbon barrels previously containing heavily peated whisky. The result is an unusually complex Chichibu balancing fruit, malt, oak, wine influence and restrained peat.

Tasting Notes:
The aroma is rich and wonderfully expressive, opening with tropical passionfruit and lychee alongside dark grapes, blackberry and ripe plum. Sweet malt provides the foundation, while cinnamon, earthy woodland notes and subtle peat introduce additional depth. The palate begins lively and oily, with lemon, cracked pepper and assertive yet controlled peat before developing into sweeter notes of honey and beeswax. Toasted bread, creamy malt and ripe mirabelle and damson plums add richness as the whisky opens. The finish is long and concentrated, carrying malt and gentle peat into herbal notes of mint, gentian and sage before candied fruits, toffee and Bourbon vanilla emerge, leaving an elegant balance of fruit, sweetness, spice and smoke.