A Tour Report of Chichibu Distillery, Home of Ichiro’s Malt Whisky

Ichiro’s Malt is a world famous brand of whisky produced in Saitama Prefecture by Chichibu Distillery, which has won numerous awards in the international whisky competition, “World Whiskies Awards,” held annually in London, England.

In December of 2024, I received a special invitation to a food and drink industry-exclusive tour of Chichibu Distillery, a stop on the “Chichibu Spirits Tour” sponsored by the Chichibu, Ogano Town Specific Regional Development Cooperative, and was thrilled to have a chance to learn how Japanese whisky is distilled at this legendary distillery deep in the heart of the Saitama countryside.

At 1PM on an afternoon in January, I gathered with other tour participants in front of Seibu Chichibu Station, and proceeded on the 20-minute bus ride to our destination of Chichibu Distillery. Upon arrival at the charming Scottish-style guest house, we were received by a staff member who guided us into the building.

Immediately we were greeted with a table displaying numerous international awards, including those from the “World Whiskies Awards” in London, a barrel with a row of colorful Ichiro’s Malt whisky bottles placed atop, and a small, warm and inviting fireplace tucked away at the back of the room.

Moving further into the room, we could examine cabinets with many small flasks and large bottles of whisky, like an apothecary’s collection of potions, and a table displaying various goods for sale, such as T-shirts, coasters and glasses. After spending some time soaking up the many treasures, we were treated to a detailed explanation of the tour and the history of the facility, promised a whisky tasting at the end, and then directed by staff to the nearby first distillery.

As we entered the doorway of the first distillery, we could smell the sweet aroma of grain converting into sugar permeating the room. Chichibu Distillery’s unique approach to production incorporates traditional whisky production techniques learned by founder Akuto Ichiro in Scotland, which have been adapted for the Japanese climate. A special difference at Chichibu Distillery is the use of Mizunara Japanese oak barrels, a wood which promotes the growth of lactic acid bacteria and gives Ichiro’s Malt its distinct, sweet flavor.

Led through the room lined with rows of giant Mizunara barrels, we were given a detailed explanation of the production process, from the malting and mashing of grain, fermentation and finally to distillation.

We then received a thrilling peak inside the barrels to see the bubbling mash fermenting and had a chance to smell glasses of the clear unprocessed whisky at different stages of the distillation process, before it heads to the barrels for ageing. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the guarded secrets of whisky-making firsthand.

After climbing up a steel frame structure to view the shiny copper Scottish distilling machines up-close, we moved to the racked warehouse to see where and how the  distilled whisky is stored.

The racked warehouse was filled with row after row of various kind of barrels, including the standard Mizunara Japanese oak, as well as American oak and Spanish sherry. Each barrel gives Ichiro’s Malt whisky its unique characteristics, adding depth to its aroma and flavor.

After learning about the finishing touches of whisky production at the second distillery, we headed back to the guest room for a whisky tasting. I was unfortunately unable to participate, but I enjoyed seeing the sommeliers and other industry professionals tasting and commenting on the rare whiskys featured in the tasting.

Even for an amateur like me with little knowledge of the world of whisky, this tour was a delightful and rare opportunity to delve into the mysteries of whisky production. Unfortunately this tour is not currently available to the general public, but I look forward to Ichiro’s Malt continuing to gain popularity abroad, and peoples’ curiosity in this famous distillery to grow, and hope that many more people will make time to visit the rural delights of Chichibu, the home of Chichibu Distillery.

※Ichiro’s Malt is served at restaurants and bars within Chichibu and is available for purchase at select liquor stores and souvenir shops.