Chichibu has, in a remarkably short span, earned a reputation that most distilleries take a century to build. The London Edition 2024 arrives as a Japanese single malt bottled at a muscular 50.5% ABV, carrying no age statement and a price tag of £350 that places it firmly in collector territory. I've spent time with this bottle over several sessions, and I think it warrants serious attention — though not without a few caveats worth discussing.
Style & Character
What makes Chichibu compelling is ambition married to restraint. This is a distillery working with relatively young spirit, yet there is nothing raw or unfinished about the London Edition 2024. At 50.5%, it carries real weight on the tongue — this is not a whisky that fades into the background. The higher strength suggests it was bottled to showcase cask influence without dilution smoothing away the edges, and that decision pays off. There is a confidence here that speaks to careful cask selection rather than relying on time alone to do the heavy lifting.
As a NAS release, the London Edition 2024 asks you to judge it on what's in the glass rather than a number on the label. That's a fair ask when the liquid delivers. Japanese single malts in this category tend to walk a line between the precision of Scottish tradition and something distinctly their own — a lightness of touch, a clarity of flavour that feels deliberate rather than accidental. This bottling sits comfortably in that tradition.
The 'London Edition' designation points to a release curated specifically for the UK market, and limited editions from Chichibu have historically performed well both as drinking whiskies and as investments. Whether you open it or shelve it is your business, but I'd encourage the former. Whisky is made to be drunk.
The Verdict
At £350, you are paying a premium that reflects both scarcity and the Chichibu name. Is it justified? Largely, yes. The quality of spirit here is genuinely impressive — this is not a case of hype outpacing substance. The 50.5% ABV gives it backbone and presence, and the overall profile suggests real skill in vatting and cask management. It doesn't reach the transcendent heights of some older Chichibu releases I've been fortunate enough to taste, but it holds its own admirably in a crowded market of overpriced NAS bottlings from far less interesting producers.
I'm giving this an 8.2 out of 10. It's a whisky that rewards patience and attention, delivers on its promise, and represents a distillery that continues to earn its place among the world's most exciting single malt producers. The price will put some people off, and I understand that — but if Japanese whisky at this level interests you, the London Edition 2024 is a worthy addition to the shelf.
Best Served
Pour it neat and give it ten minutes to open up in the glass. At 50.5%, a few drops of still water will unlock it further without diminishing the structure — I'd recommend starting without and adding gradually. This is a whisky that changes as it breathes, and rushing it would be doing yourself a disservice. A Glencairn or tulip glass is ideal here; you want to concentrate what's on offer rather than let it dissipate. If you're feeling adventurous, a Japanese-style Highball with quality soda and a single large ice cube makes a spectacular long drink — though at this price, I suspect most will prefer it neat.
