09/02/2026 Chichibu

Chichibu London Edition b.2023 (51.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt imported by Speciality Drinks, 1949b, b#1843): nose: it is not very expressive, at first. A whiff of frankincense, a whisper of sandalwood, old wooden sandals... This has a Shinto-temple allure to it, but it does not boast, to say the least. A few seconds' breathing help promote oiled wood (mahogany, rosewood, cherrywood), then a a flavourful, unlit cigar -- unless it is fruity pipe tobacco, Ash jumps on the bandwagon for a good old party. The second nose takes me back to the village shop near my childhood home; it sold most everything, but the dominant smell was that of candy of all kinds, mingling with that of clean-but-outmoded floor tiles. At least, that is how I remember it. This even has a slight animal scent that plays peek-a-boo: leather, full-fat cream past its prime, or slightly rancid sweat. Mouth: roasted apple pips, upon entry, then much smokier tones when chewing. A stealthy sweetness follows. Smoked Haribo gummies, if that makes sense. It is at once hot and very pleasant on the tongue, owing to that sweetness. And it is really Gummibärchen. No caster sugar, no Demerara, no cane sugar, no Golden Syrup. Just unadulterated Gummibärchen (yellow or orange, to be precise, which suggests they are citrus flavoured). The second sip is a tad more acidic. Oh! it is not quite vinegar-y; more pressed currants augmented with just a drop of pickled-red-onion brine. Chewing, once again, releases sweeties, though perhaps with a darker-citrus flavour., this time: orange, blush orange, gac fruit). It is not exactly wine-y, but it points in that general direction. It turns very-slightly fizzy in the long run and adds sultanas. Finish: Gummibärchen and smoke are so tightly knit that they actually form an elegant whole rather than two parts. It has a delicate mineral aspect too, softly drying, especially perceptible on the front half of the tongue. A little later on, it gives crystallised citrus segments or very-dry, hardened mixed peel and a discreet note of faded leather. The second gulp brings forth currants and dried cranberries, and swaps the mineral side for grated charcoal. The more time passes, the more reminiscent this is of the 1970s. Oilcloth on the chipboard kitchen table, beige-and-orange curtains, unhealthy snacks, cigarette smoke clinging to everything. It has its charm. It reclaims its earlier elegance after a while, which is just as well. Let us be frivolous and give this a high score, today. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, JS)