Paris Edition 2021, subtitled Conquête, is the fourth release in Chichibu's annual series for La Maison du Whisky. This one is built around barley rather than casks, using spirit from six varieties distilled between 2013 and 2015, and was bottled at 53.5% in an edition of 1,847 bottles.
About This Whisky
Six barley varieties went into the vatting: Concerto, peated Concerto, Venture, Braemar, Tipple and Propino. The spirit was distilled between 2013 and 2015, which puts the whisky at around six years old, and it was bottled at 53.5% ABV. The style is fresh and herbal, with juicy fruit and a camphor note that at times suggests medicinal peat.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Green apple, cut grass and lemon balm, with vanilla and a faint medicinal smoke.
- Palate: Juicy and vivid, with pear, white grape and sweet spice over a creamy malt base, and camphor in the background.
- Finish: Fresh and lasting, with herbs, clove and a light smoky dryness.
Serving & Food
Pour at room temperature into a stemmed tasting glass. Hold off on water at first, since the herbal side shows best neat, then try a drop or two later to sweeten it. Serve with herb-crusted lamb, cold green-tea soba or a lemon tart.
How to Enjoy
Anyone interested in how barley variety shapes whisky, and collectors of the Paris Edition run.
Product Details
Producer: Chichibu / Ichiro's Malt
Edition: Paris Edition 2021, Conquête (fourth release)
Bottled for: La Maison du Whisky
Barley: Concerto, peated Concerto, Venture, Braemar, Tipple, Propino
Distilled: 2013 to 2015
Outturn: 1,847 bottles
Bottle size / Format: 700mL
Category: Japanese single malt whisky
Region/Country: Saitama, Japan
ABV / Strength: 53.5% ABV
About the Distillery
Barley has become one of Chichibu's pet subjects. The team distils batches from different varieties, including grain grown near the distillery, and floor-malts some of it by hand, which lets them compare how each one behaves in the spirit. That curiosity runs through the releases, from The Floor Malted to the city editions made for Paris and London. Chichibu has distilled since 2008 and belongs to Venture Whisky, the company Ichiro Akuto founded in 2004.