New Release: Chichibu 2008-2014 Official Private Cask Whisky Council #206

Considering the maturation period, this is a very well-developed malt. Chichibu CHICHIBU 2008-2014 OB Private Cask Whisky Council #206 61.3% one of 215 bottles The aroma has notes of vanilla, coconut milk, banana, ripe apricot and orange, a thick grainy character, nuances of new oak, rich, when drinking it is not too harsh for its alcohol content and has a gradual stimulation, a dense sweetness of vanilla, orange, honey-like flavors, raw oak, tannins and astringency, it has youthfulness but also thick grainy character with raw wood notes and a strong aftertaste. [Good/Very Good] This is the #206 bottling, labeled as 'Whisky Council,' recently bottled private cask from Chichibu Distillery. It was distilled in 2008, the first year of operation at Chichibu Distillery. The label depicting Chichibu Distillery, designed by Mr. Hidetaka Sato, is also excellent. The aroma has an impressionable nuance of coconut milk, and for a short maturation, it also had diverse fruity notes such as banana, apricot, and orange. The grain character is thick, with a strong oak nuance. When tasted, it's not overly stimulating for its high proof, and the citrusy nuances and dense sweetness like honey are pleasant. The young oak nuance is strong, but overall it's a well-made and delicious malt. Despite its short maturation period, Chichibu is surprisingly well-developed. This is due to the maturation environment as well as the cask itself. While it lacks some greenness, the oak nuance reminiscent of new wood is strong. However, it's a bit much to expect both the lack of greenness and natural cask aroma from about 6 years of maturation. I'm being repetitive, but it's wonderful that this cask has reached such a level of maturity in about 6 years. Honestly, as per my personal preference, I prefer this straight Chichibu over the well-finished Ichiro's Malt by Hanyu, which was finished in wood. I think that the casks chosen for long-term aging in the maturation warehouse are also sleeping there, and receiving such a young yet well-developed cask makes me look forward to those as well.