The Japanese Chichibu Distillery, has announced the launch of four new releases, which will be available in the UK in time for The Whisky Show 2026.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Distillery II Hint of Sherry (53.5% ABV) is the second release from Chichibu II Distillery, which opened in 2019. Aged for five to six years and matured in a combination of Sherry casks and ex-Bourbon barrels, it also incorporates a touch of peated malt in the recipe.

The whisky is said to deliver a balanced yet expressive profile. Notes of peat smoke, dark chocolate, raisins and candied citrus are followed by vanilla, honey and baking spice, with a lingering finish of sweet smoke and lapsang souchong. RRP: £145.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Double Distilleries (46.5% ABV) is matured in a variety of cask types. This release brings together single malts from Chichibu I and Chichibu II distilleries for the first time, blending the elegant, fruit-forward character of the original distillery with the richer, fuller-bodied style of its successor.

The whisky is described as layered and complex, opening with notes of apricot, peach and delicate jasmine before developing into creamy vanilla and honey, with a long finish of baking spices and citrus peel. RRP: £110.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated 2026 (50.5% ABV) is the first standalone release of Chichibu’s heavily peated single malt since 2022. It is crafted from malt peated to 50 PPM during the distillery’s annual month-long peated production run. Matured in a combination of predominantly ex-Bourbon barrels, alongside Oloroso Sherry casks and re-coopered hogsheads, it balances elegant peat smoke with gentle sweetness.

The whisky is said to offer notes of toasted baking spices, burnt caramel and roasted almonds, followed by honey, banana, cooked apple and ginger spice, before finishing with lingering grassy smoke and resinous complexity. RRP: £192.

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The London Edition 2026 (50.5% ABV) is the ninth edition of this iconic series, created exclusively for the UK. This year’s release is a marriage of 16 casks of Japanese single malt whisky, all distilled at Chichibu I, including two wine casks sourced from New Zealand and California, alongside first and second-fill Bourbon barrels.

The expression is said to showcase Chichibu’s bright, fruit-forward spirit, with notes of vanilla, honey, whipped cream and grapefruit peel on the nose, followed by rich apricot and peach on the palate and a finish of sweet vanilla custard and cracked white pepper.

The bottle’s striking label design is the third and final instalment of the ‘Warrior Series’, which began in 2024. Designed and created by Elixir Distillers’ Creative Director Raj Chavda, the artwork continues the collectible nature of the series, complementing a whisky that highlights both Chichibu’s distinctive house style and exceptional blending skills. It also features a textured, glow-in-the-dark finish. RRP: £210.

Commenting on Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The London Edition, Raj Chavda said: “The London Edition series is inspired by Musha-e: The Warriors of Ukiyo-e, a world where fact and fiction, truth and fable intertwine. This interpretation depicts a noble warrior confronting a serpent, or ‘Hebi’, a powerful symbol that represents protection, wisdom, good fortune, transformation and rebirth.”

“The glow-in-the-dark element adds another layer to the story. Scientifically, phosphor materials absorb energy and later release it as light, but metaphorically it reflects the eternal tension between light and darkness – the struggle of every warrior’s journey. The warrior’s courage, and the serpent’s protective energy, become almost charged by the world around them, gathering strength beneath the surface before emerging into light when the conditions are right.”

These latest releases from the cult Japanese whisky producer, which will be distributed in the UK by Speciality Brands, will be available from selected specialist retailers from October. They will also be available to sample at The Whisky Show 2026, taking place on 2–4 October at Old Billingsgate, London.