Chichibu & Ichiro's Malt Singapore | Premium Japanese Whisky

Frequently Asked Questions — Chichibu & Ichiro's Malt Singapore

What is Chichibu whisky?

Chichibu is a small, highly acclaimed Japanese whisky distillery in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, north-west of Tokyo, founded by Ichiro Akuto and producing from 2008. It was the first new whisky distillery built in Japan in over three decades and is widely credited with launching the country's modern craft-whisky movement. Working on a tiny, artisanal scale with just two pot stills, Chichibu has won global acclaim and a devoted collector following for its expressive, meticulously made single malts, often matured in interesting casks including Japanese mizunara oak. Its limited bottlings are among the most sought-after whiskies in the world. At The Liquid Collection, the Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt selection runs to 9 bottles, from $124 to $588 SGD.

Who is Ichiro Akuto?

Ichiro Akuto is the master distiller and blender behind Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt, and one of the central figures of Japan's whisky renaissance. He represents the 21st generation of a family that has made alcohol since around 1625, beginning with sake and moving into whisky at the family's Hanyu distillery in the 20th century. When Hanyu closed in 2000, Akuto rescued its remaining casks, founded Venture Whisky in 2004, and used them to create the now-legendary Playing Card series before opening his own Chichibu distillery in 2008. His refined, experimental blending style has earned worldwide recognition. The Liquid Collection stocks a range of his Chichibu single malts and Ichiro's Malt blends.

What is the difference between Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt?

Both come from Ichiro Akuto's Venture Whisky, but they sit at different points. Chichibu refers to single-malt whisky distilled at the Chichibu distillery itself — small-production, premium and highly collectible. Ichiro's Malt is the broader brand name, covering everything Akuto bottles: single malts, blended malts such as Double Distilleries, exclusive Hanyu releases, and the accessible Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky, which mixes Japanese malt with malt and grain whiskies sourced from around the world. In short, all Chichibu is Ichiro's Malt, but not all Ichiro's Malt is pure Chichibu. At The Liquid Collection you can explore both, from the entry-level World Blended at $124 SGD to single-distillery Chichibu at $588 SGD.

What is Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky?

Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky is the most accessible expression in the range and a great introduction to Ichiro Akuto's craft. It belongs to his World Blended category, an innovative style that combines Chichibu's own Japanese malt with carefully selected malt and grain whiskies sourced from around the world — typically Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States — with the final blending and maturation carried out in Japan, giving it Chichibu's distinctive house character. The result is elegant, fruit-forward and softly sweet with gentle spice, refined yet approachable. At The Liquid Collection the standard World Blended is $124 SGD, with a Limited Edition at $348 SGD. An ideal first step into the world of Chichibu.

What is the Hanyu Playing Card series?

The Hanyu Playing Card series is one of the most famous and valuable whisky collections ever released. After the Akuto family's Hanyu distillery closed in 2000, Ichiro Akuto bottled its remaining stock as a series of single casks, each labelled with a playing card — the full deck plus jokers, released between 2005 and 2014. The series became a darling of the auction world, with complete sets and individual bottles fetching extraordinary prices, and it cemented Akuto's reputation before Chichibu had even matured. While the Card Series itself is now largely confined to auctions and private collections, its legacy lives on in the Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt whiskies stocked at The Liquid Collection, made by the same hand.

How many Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt whiskies does The Liquid Collection stock?

The Liquid Collection stocks 9 Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt whiskies, priced from $124 to $588 SGD. From Ichiro's Malt there is the World Blended Whisky at $124 SGD, Wine Wood Reserve at $199 SGD, Double Distilleries at $212 SGD, Mizunara Wood Reserve at $228 SGD, and at $348 SGD both the World Blended Limited Edition and a single-cask Flower Series bottling. From the Chichibu single distillery there is Distillery II at $278 SGD and two Chichibu Paris Edition 2025 bottlings, Ginza and Harajuku, at $588 SGD each. All are available for free islandwide delivery in Singapore.

What is mizunara, and what is Mizunara Wood Reserve?

Mizunara is a prized species of Japanese oak, scarce and difficult to work with, which imparts distinctive aromas of sandalwood, incense, coconut and oriental spice to whisky matured in it — a signature of fine Japanese whisky. Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve is finished in mizunara casks, layering those exotic, fragrant notes over the blend's fruity, malty base for a uniquely Japanese character. It is one of the more distinctive expressions in the range and a favourite of drinkers seeking that hallmark mizunara perfume. At The Liquid Collection it is $228 SGD. For those new to Japanese oak, it is one of the most rewarding ways to experience what makes the style so prized.

Why is Chichibu whisky so collectible and expensive?

Several factors combine. Chichibu is a tiny distillery producing limited quantities, so demand vastly outstrips supply; its founder Ichiro Akuto has near-legendary status thanks to the Hanyu Card Series and his role in Japan's whisky renaissance; and the whiskies themselves are genuinely excellent, winning awards worldwide. Many releases are single casks or special editions made in only a few hundred bottles, which makes them irresistible to collectors. As with Japanese whisky generally, surging global demand has pushed prices upward across the board. At The Liquid Collection, you can buy current Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt releases from $124 SGD for the World Blended up to $588 SGD for the limited single-distillery editions, rather than chasing them at auction.

Which Chichibu or Ichiro's Malt should I buy first?

If you are new to the range, start with Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky at $124 SGD — approachable, fruit-forward and the best-value introduction to Akuto's style. To explore cask influence, the Wine Wood Reserve at $199 SGD and the Mizunara Wood Reserve at $228 SGD show off wine and Japanese-oak finishing beautifully. For something with more pedigree, Double Distilleries at $212 SGD is a fascinating blended malt. Serious collectors and enthusiasts will want the single-distillery Chichibu Distillery II at $278 SGD or the limited Chichibu Paris Edition 2025 bottlings at $588 SGD. The Liquid Collection can guide your choice on WhatsApp at +65 9680 5856, whether for sipping or gifting.

How much does Chichibu whisky cost in Singapore, and does The Liquid Collection deliver?

At The Liquid Collection, Chichibu and Ichiro's Malt whiskies range from $124 to $588 SGD. Ichiro's Malt expressions run from the World Blended at $124 SGD through the Wine Wood Reserve, Double Distilleries and Mizunara Wood Reserve, up to the World Blended Limited Edition and a single-cask Flower Series bottling at $348 SGD. Chichibu single-distillery whiskies are the Distillery II at $278 SGD and two Paris Edition 2025 bottlings at $588 SGD each. All prices are in Singapore dollars for 70cl bottles. The Liquid Collection delivers free islandwide across Singapore with no minimum order and a standard 3 working days, and the team is on WhatsApp at +65 9680 5856. The office is at 2 Sims Close, #02-10, Singapore 387298.