Chichibu : Paris Foundations 2025 Edition Asakusa

Characteristics and tasting advice for Chichibu Paris Foundations 2025 Edition Asakusa

Tasting

Nose
Rich and creamy, the aromatic profile features pronounced tropical fruits (passion fruit, lychee, mango), accompanied by red fruits (grape, blackberry). Earthy notes of undergrowth (dried leaf, porcini) and a delicate touch of prune add depth. Spicy notes (cinnamon), a pleasant malty bitterness, along with floral (white flowers) and woody touches complete the palette, all supported by a subtle hint of light peat.

Palate
The structure reveals an oily attack with a generously peaty character, lively and lemony with a hint of pepper. The flavor development gradually shifts toward honeyed and waxy registers, building increasing creaminess. Indulgent flavors express themselves through toast, rusk, malty notes (barley porridge), and delicious fruitiness (mirabelle, damson). Vanilla, cocoa, and a fine smoky touch enrich the aromatic balance. The long, concentrated finish reprises the malty tones, refreshed by flavors of gentian, mint, eucalyptus, and sage. The profile remains both exotic (passion fruit) and candied (plum), gradually softened by notes of toffee and bourbon vanilla. A spicy (white pepper, cinnamon) and woody finish, delicately gourmet, concludes the tasting.

An exceptional Japanese single malt whisky celebrating the Paris–Tokyo connection

Chichibu: the pinnacle of artisanal Japanese whisky

Founded in 2008 by Ichiro Akuto in Saitama Prefecture, Chichibu embodies the excellence of contemporary Japanese whisky. This artisanal distillery, still led by its visionary founder, has established itself as an essential reference in less than two decades. Chichibu stands out for its exceptional mastery of blending a variety of casks—French, American, and Spanish oak, ex-bourbon and ex-wine—and for its ability to produce single malts with remarkable aromatic complexity. The Paris Edition, an annual series launched in 2018, bears witness to the house’s creative boldness, combining Japanese tradition and international influences with a decisively modern visual identity.

Paris Edition 2025: a tribute to iconic neighborhoods

Since 2018, the Chichibu distillery has crafted a blend dedicated to the French capital. This Paris 2025 edition pays homage to the strong bond between Paris and Tokyo, drawing parallels between their respective neighborhoods. The Asakusa district, famous for its Sensō-ji temple and traditional atmosphere, is highlighted in parallel with Montmartre. The complex blend brings together whiskies of different ages (5 to 14 years) from multiple casks: four virgin French oak casks, one sherry cask in Spanish oak, three French oak casks that held red Bordeaux wine, one American oak hogshead, six bourbon barrels, and two bourbon barrels that previously contained heavily peated whisky. This diversity of casks imparts exceptional aromatic richness to the whisky.

Presented in a gift box, this 70 cl single malt showcases the pop and colorful visual identity of the Paris Edition series, inspired by Japanese kawaii culture and postage stamps, with six different labels celebrating the cultural bridges between the two capitals.