Chichibu Australia Edition 2026 Single Malt (480 Bottles)

Six-Cask Unpeated Blend Meets Sydney Artist Yosi Messiah's Exclusive Label Artwork

Casa de Vinos has officially unveiled the Chichibu Australia Edition 2026 Single Malt Japanese Whisky. This bottling marks the third annual release created in partnership with Saitama Prefecture's Chichibu Distillery, bottled at 48.5% ABV and strictly limited to 480 bottles.

The 2026 edition is an entirely unpeated whisky crafted from a blend of 6 distinct casks, marrying bourbon barrels, hogsheads, Chibidaru, and local Chichibu red wine casks. "Chibidaru" translates to "cute/small cask" in Japanese—equivalent to a Scotch quarter cask—and is handcrafted at Chichibu's on-site cooperage.

According to official tasting notes, the nose opens with aromas of grapefruit, honey, and orange peel; the palate reveals apricot, milk chocolate, and lychee; while the finish is fresh, gentle, and remarkably smooth.

Connecting with Australian Creative Art: The "Whisky Girl" Interpretation

Initiated in 2024, the Australia Edition series aims to bridge Chichibu whisky with Australian contemporary art. The first two releases featured watercolours by Melbourne artist Mark Cowell—showcasing Melbourne's iconic W-class tram in 2024 and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2025. For this installment, Casa de Vinos shifted creative direction, partnering with Sydney-based artist Yosi Messiah.

Messiah is renowned for vibrant, dynamic figurative-abstract works. His mixed-media piece titled "Whisky Girl" incorporates gold and silver pigments, depicting a geisha holding a whisky glass against a background designed to accentuate the whisky's golden amber hue. Messiah noted that geishas embody refinement, grace, beauty, and inner strength. Jose Dymenstein of Casa de Vinos shared that he had long admired Messiah's geisha paintings and wanted an Australian artist to bring an authentic, bold, and distinct vision to Chichibu, rather than merely mimicking Japanese aesthetics.

This whisky was distilled at Chichibu Distillery in Saitama Prefecture, owned by Venture Whisky Ltd. Founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto, the craft distillery was Japan's first newly licensed whisky maker in 35 years.

📅 Release Date: 2026-10-13

🔗 Source: The Whiskey Wash