Whisky from Chichibu
Please note: stock and availability in our store may vary! More info
Chichibu 2012 Hanyu Cask
COLLECTOR350
Chichibu 2012 Hanyu Cask
Very last one in stock!
Chichibu 2012 Hanyu Cask is a Japanese single malt with a very defined identity: distilled in 2012, bottled in 2019 and drawn from a single refill cask. Rather than a broad house style, this is a whisky shaped by one individual cask and one specific bottling moment.
The Hanyu Cask name gives the release its own point of focus, while Chichibu provides the broader whisky identity. With only 336 bottles, cask strength at 61.5% and a single cask origin, it carries the feel of a tightly limited release rather than a regular expression. At Drankenshop Broekmans, bottles like this are approached with particular care because they show a very specific side of Japanese whisky.
The refill cask detail is important. It points to a style where wood is present but not (…)Chichibu 2013 12y Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel Incl. Box
COLLECTOR850
Chichibu 2013 12y Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel Incl. Box
Temporarily sold out
Chichibu 2013 12y Cask #2874 Refill Bourbon Barrel is the kind of Japanese single malt where the individual cask really matters. It was distilled in 2013, matured for twelve years in a refill bourbon barrel and drawn from one single cask, #2874. With only 162 bottles produced, this is a very small release by any standard.
The refill bourbon cask is a key part of the story. Rather than covering the whisky with heavy oak, it is described as preserving freshness and vitality while still allowing a clear sense of maturity to come through. That balance between energy and development is what gives this bottling much of its appeal.
The character described for this Chichibu is especially engaging: sweetness, salinity, acidity and a gentle bitterness all play a role. (…)Chichibu 2013 Virgin
COLLECTOR350360° view available
Chichibu 2013 Virgin
In stock
Chichibu 2013 Virgin is a Japanese single malt with a very defined sense of place and cask. Distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2020, it comes from a single Virgin Oak cask and was released at cask strength, carrying its natural intensity at 50.9% ABV.
The appeal here lies in its focus. This is not a broad vatting designed for consistency across many casks; it is one individual cask, captured in a limited run of 212 bottles. The Virgin Oak element gives the wood an important role in the story, supported by a profile where wood, spice and fruit all stand clearly forward.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a bottle for those who follow rare Japanese single malts with a clear cask identity. With only the last bottles remaining and its status as a collector's (…)Chichibu 2014 10y #10416 Incl. Box
LAST PIECES360° view available
Chichibu 2014 10y #10416 Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2014 10y #10416 is a Japanese single malt with a very defined identity: drawn from a single cask, bottled at cask strength and limited to just 246 bottles. It also closes the In the Wake of Silence series within the Itinîraires collection, giving this release the feel of a final chapter rather than a standalone bottling.
The sherry finish is described as a meeting point between Japan and Andalusia. That idea comes through in the whisky's sense of maturity, its refined classicism and the precise way its aromatic notes are presented. The reference to shimmering orange tones fits naturally with the bitter orange, candied apricot and dried fruit found in the tasting notes.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, a bottling like this stands out because the (…)Chichibu 2014 11y Elixir Trail (Elixir Distillers - Whisky Trail)
LAST PIECES
Chichibu 2014 11y Elixir Trail (Elixir Distillers - Whisky Trail)
On request only
Chichibu 2014 11y Elixir Trail is a Japanese single malt with a very defined identity: one single cask, bottled at cask strength, with only 240 bottles released. At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of whisky we like to present as a specific cask story rather than a standard expression, because its interest lies in the detail of that individual maturation.
Distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2025 by Elixir Distillers for the Whisky Trail series, it was finished in an ex-IPA cask. That beer cask influence gives the whisky a hoppy, slightly daring edge, while the Chichibu character is described through Japanese precision and craft. The result is a release where floral notes, spice and a gentle malt bitterness all have a role to play.
At 54.5%, it carries the (…)Chichibu 2014 Single Cask Nectar
COLLECTOR1.500360° view available
Chichibu 2014 Single Cask Nectar
Very last one in stock!
Chichibu 2014 Single Cask Nectar is a Japanese single malt with a very focused identity. Distilled in 2014 and bottled in 2021, it spent seven years in a single bourbon barrel before being released in a run of just 198 bottles. Rather than a broad house-style bottling, this is the character of one cask captured at one moment in time.
At 64.3% ABV, it has been bottled at cask strength, keeping the whisky close to the way it left the barrel. That gives this release a direct, uncompromised feel: no large-scale blending, just the individual development of one bourbon cask.
For Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Chichibu that speaks to drinkers who appreciate limited Japanese single malt with a clear sense of origin. Its single cask nature, small outturn (…)Chichibu 2016 8y #14044 Incl. Box
COLLECTOR
Chichibu 2016 8y #14044 Incl. Box
Very last one in stock!
Chichibu 2016 8y #14044 is a Japanese single malt built around the individuality of one cask. Distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2024, it spent 8 years maturing before being released at natural cask strength, with a substantial 65.5% alcohol content. Only 268 bottles were drawn from cask #14044, making this a very limited release.
The Bordeaux maturation gives the whisky its main direction in the available profile: fruit and spice are clearly present, while oak remains more restrained. There is no broad-brush blending story here; the interest lies in the specific character of this one cask and the intensity preserved by bottling it at full strength.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this bottle stands out as a rare Chichibu release for drinkers and collectors who value (…)Chichibu 2016 Single Cask Nectar Incl. Box
COLLECTOR750360° view available
Chichibu 2016 Single Cask Nectar Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2016 Single Cask Nectar is a Japanese single malt built around rarity and precision: one cask, one vintage, and only 245 bottles. Chichibu is one of the most talked-about newer distilleries in Japan, with releases that are widely sought after by whisky enthusiasts for their quality and distinctive identity.
Distilled on 3 December 2016 and bottled on 1 September 2024, this whisky was 7 years old at bottling. It was made from Concerto barley and matured in cask #7071, a second-fill American oak cask that previously held sherry. The supplied description points to a rich topaz colour with orange-copper highlights, matching the whisky's fruit-driven and warming personality.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, a bottling like this stands out because it brings (…)Chichibu 2017 7y #14329 Incl. Box
LAST PIECES360° view available
Chichibu 2017 7y #14329 Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2017 7y #14329 is the kind of Japanese single malt where the individual cask really matters. Drawn from a single cask and bottled at cask strength, it comes in at 61.4% with an outturn of just 219 bottles. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a particularly focused release: small in scale, direct in character, and now down to the last bottles.
The maturation story is central here. Chichibu places great importance on this stage and even has its own cooperage to better understand and control the role of wood. Since 2010, Ichiro Akuto has worked with materials such as local mizunara oak and wood from Hokkaido, showing how seriously the distillery approaches cask influence. In this case, the defining feature is the cider cask finish, giving the whisky an especially (…)Chichibu 2017 8y #7492 Incl. Box
LAST PIECES360° view available
Chichibu 2017 8y #7492 Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2017 8y #7492 is a Japanese single malt where the production story matters. The distillery works on a small, hands-on scale: a 2400-litre mash tun, manual mashing with a wooden paddle, eight 3000-litre washbacks made from Japanese mizunara oak and two 2000-litre Forsyth's pot stills. Those details give this whisky a clear sense of craft and focus, with the distillate itself very much at the centre.
Distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2025, this 8-year-old Chichibu matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel. It comes from one single cask, #7492, and was bottled at cask strength at 64.3%. Only 171 bottles were drawn, so this is a narrow and very specific release rather than a broad expression. At Drankenshop Broekmans, a bottling like this stands out because it shows one (…)Chichibu 2017 8y Cask #7966 Bourbon Barrel 1st Fill Incl. Box
COLLECTOR500
Chichibu 2017 8y Cask #7966 Bourbon Barrel 1st Fill Incl. Box
Temporarily sold out
Chichibu 2017 8 Year Old Cask #7966 is a Japanese single malt drawn from one First Fill Bourbon Barrel and bottled at cask strength. Distilled in 2017, made with Odyssey barley and released at 63.3%, it has the directness of a whisky that has not been softened into a broader house style. Only 192 bottles were filled, giving this release a very defined sense of place and cask.
The character described here is precise rather than heavy. Citrus, white flowers and gentle spice sit at the centre, gradually joined by a noble, resinous wood influence. It is presented as a particularly malty and generous Chichibu, with the bourbon barrel adding depth while leaving the aromatic clarity intact.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, bottlings like this are selected for customers who (…)Chichibu 2017 8y Cask #8253 Heavily Peated 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel
COLLECTOR500
Chichibu 2017 8y Cask #8253 Heavily Peated 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel
Temporarily sold out
Chichibu 2017 8 Year Old Cask #8253 Heavily Peated is a Japanese single malt with a forceful, clearly defined personality. Distilled in 2017, matured for eight years and bottled at cask strength at 63.9%, it is a whisky built around intensity rather than restraint.
Its first fill bourbon barrel maturation brings vanilla, honeyed and chocolate-like notes into the picture, while the heavily peated style adds smoke and medicinal depth. The product information even places its profile in the direction of certain well-known peated Islay whiskies, though here it remains very much a single cask Chichibu, shaped by cask #8253 and made from Concerto barley.
Only 192 bottles were released, giving this bottling a distinctly limited character. At Drankenshop Broekmans, (…)Chichibu 2017 Yy #8282 Incl. Box
LAST PIECES360° view available
Chichibu 2017 Yy #8282 Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2017 Yy #8282 is a Japanese single malt with a very defined sense of place and cask. Chichibu was founded in 2007 by Ichiro Akuto and is located near the Arakawa River in Saitama, north of Tokyo. The local conditions, with warm humid summers and cold winters, play an important role in the maturation of its craft single malt.
This release was distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2025 at 7 years old from a single first-fill bourbon barrel. Rather than showing a broad house style, it captures one individual cask at one precise point in its development. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we particularly value bottlings like this because they allow the distillate, peat and cask influence to speak with real clarity.
Made from the Odyssee barley variety and carrying a (…)Chichibu 2018 6y (Adelphi) Incl. Box
COLLECTOR360° view available
Chichibu 2018 6y (Adelphi) Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu 2018 6y is a Japanese single malt where the limited nature of the release is central to its appeal. Drawn from a single cask and bottled at cask strength, it was released in a run of just 210 bottles. Rather than presenting a broad house style, it captures one very specific cask from Chichibu's maturation.
Distilled in Japan in 2018, it matured in a first fill bourbon barrel. The whisky is unpeated, so the emphasis moves away from smoke and towards purity, finesse, fruit-driven character and a clear spicy side. The wood influence is present, but it plays a supporting role rather than dominating the whisky.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this bottle sits in the selection as a precise and limited Chichibu release for drinkers who appreciate Japanese single (…)Chichibu 2018 7y #10902 Refill Peated Bourbon Barrel Incl. Box
COLLECTOR350
Chichibu 2018 7y #10902 Refill Peated Bourbon Barrel Incl. Box
Temporarily sold out
Chichibu 2018 7y #10902 is the kind of Japanese single malt where the cask story matters from the start. Distilled in 2018 from Odyssey barley, it spent 7 years in a Refill Peated Bourbon Barrel before being bottled from a single cask at its natural strength of 65.5%. Only 188 bottles were drawn.
Its character is built around peat, but not in a flat or one-dimensional way. The description points to smoke, empyreumatic notes, medicinal accents and mineral tones, with malt and fruit bringing freshness and lift through the whisky.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the sort of bottle we place among the more focused single cask releases: limited, powerful, clearly cask-driven and made for drinkers who appreciate a whisky with a defined aromatic direction. Its (…)Chichibu 2019 On The Way
COLLECTOR
Chichibu 2019 On The Way
In stock
Chichibu 2019 On The Way is a Japanese single malt built around composition rather than an age statement. As a multivintage release bottled at 51.5%, it brings together different vintages into one defined expression, with the focus placed on the whisky's overall shape rather than on a single number of years.
The bourbon barrel element gives the whisky a clear stylistic direction. Fruit is the most noticeable part of the profile, supported by lighter floral, spicy and woody notes. There is no peated or salty emphasis here; the character is framed more by fruit, detail and restrained cask influence.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this Chichibu stands out because it is a finite release of 11,000 bottles and we are now dealing with the last bottles. Together with its (…)Chichibu On The Way 2024 Incl. Box
50
Chichibu On The Way 2024 Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu On The Way 2024 is a Japanese single malt with a strong sense of progression behind it. The On the Way concept was previously used by the distillery to bottle different stages of maturation ahead of Chichibu's first official 10-year-old whisky in 2020. Its return in 2024 makes this release feel like another carefully observed step in the distillery's development, rather than just a standalone expression.
Made from 100% malted barley, this whisky brings together selected components chosen to highlight the richness of the barley. They range from 9 to 15 years old and have matured in bourbon casks, sherry puncheons, mizunara hogsheads, wine casks and chibidaru, Chichibu's quarter cask format. Although there is no age statement on the label, the composition gives the (…)Chichibu Paris 2022
COLLECTOR500
Chichibu Paris 2022
Very last one in stock!
Chichibu Paris 2022 is a Japanese single malt with a very clear sense of place within the Chichibu range: a limited release, bottled at 51.5%, matured in a Bourbon Barrel and presented without an age statement.
Only 1,900 bottles were released, and this is marked as a collector's item, with the last bottles now available. At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of whisky we would point out to customers who follow Chichibu closely and appreciate bottlings tied to a specific release rather than a conventional age statement.
The Paris 2022 name gives the whisky its own identity within the broader Chichibu story. Its appeal lies in the combination of Japanese single malt character, defined cask origin, limited availability and the focus of a carefully selected (…)Chichibu Paris 2023 (Different Labels, According To Availability) Incl. Box
COLLECTOR
Chichibu Paris 2023 (Different Labels, According To Availability) Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2023 is a Japanese single malt with the kind of presence that immediately makes people take notice. The name, the Chichibu signature and the scarcity around the release all matter here. It is bottled at cask strength at 49.5%, without an age statement, keeping the focus on the specific character of this edition rather than on age alone.
One detail gives the bottle an extra layer of interest: different labels may be supplied according to availability. That visual variation reinforces its collector appeal, while the whisky remains the centre of attention. At Drankenshop Broekmans, releases like this occupy a special place because they combine drinking interest with the pleasure of owning a very particular edition.
With the last bottles indicated, (…)Chichibu Paris 2025 Asakusa X Montmartre Incl. Box
360° view available
Chichibu Paris 2025 Asakusa X Montmartre Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2025 Asakusa X Montmartre is a Japanese single malt with a strong sense of place and imagination. Since 2018, Chichibu has created an annual Paris Edition dedicated to the City of Light, and the 2025 release widens that idea by pairing the urban identities of Paris and Tokyo. In this case, Montmartre meets Asakusa.
The visual side is part of the charm. The edition features six pop, colourful labels inspired by Japanese kawaii culture, with serrated edges that recall postage stamps. It suggests travel, correspondence and a dialogue between two cities. At Drankenshop Broekmans, that makes this bottle stand out as more than a cask composition; it feels like a small cultural exchange in whisky form.
The liquid itself is built from a broad mix of (…)Chichibu Paris 2025 Ginza X Les Champs Elysees Incl. Box
360° view available
Chichibu Paris 2025 Ginza X Les Champs Elysees Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2025 Ginza X Les Champs Elysees connects two city landmarks: Tokyo's Ginza and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Chichibu has created a Paris Edition every year since 2018, dedicated to the City of Light, and the 2025 release explores the identity of iconic districts in Paris and Tokyo. Its six labels use a colourful pop style inspired by Japanese kawaii culture, with stamp-like edges that suggest travel and correspondence between the two cities.
The whisky itself is built from a deliberately varied selection of casks. The cuvée includes new French oak, Spanish oak that held sherry, French oak that held Bordeaux red wine, an American oak hogshead, bourbon barrels and bourbon barrels that previously held heavily peated whisky. The whiskies in (…)Chichibu Paris 2025 Harajuku X Le Marais Incl. Box
360° view available
Chichibu Paris 2025 Harajuku X Le Marais Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2025 Harajuku X Le Marais is a Japanese single malt with a story that starts before the bottle is even opened. Since 2018, Chichibu, founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008, has created an annual Paris Edition dedicated to the City of Light. The 2025 release explores the geography and urban identity of Paris and Tokyo, pairing emblematic neighbourhoods from both capitals. Here, Le Marais and Harajuku meet through a colourful pop-style label inspired by Japanese kawaii culture and by postage stamps, suggesting travel and correspondence between two city cultures.
The whisky itself is built from an unusually varied set of casks. The cuvée brings together whiskies aged from five to fourteen years, matured in new French oak, Spanish oak that held sherry, French oak (…)Chichibu Paris 2025 Le Marais X Harajuku Incl. Box
360° view available
Chichibu Paris 2025 Le Marais X Harajuku Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2025 Le Marais X Harajuku is part of an annual series created by Chichibu since 2018 as a tribute to Paris. The 2025 edition brings Paris and Tokyo into conversation by pairing emblematic neighbourhoods, including Le Marais and Harajuku. Its six labels are bright, pop-inspired and rooted in Japanese kawaii culture, with perforated stamp-like edges that suggest travel, exchange and correspondence between two urban worlds.
Behind that playful visual language sits a carefully built blend. Chichibu brings together four new French oak casks, one Spanish oak cask that held sherry, three French oak casks that held Bordeaux red wine, an American oak hogshead, six bourbon barrels and two bourbon barrels that previously contained heavily peated whisky. The whiskies in (…)Chichibu Paris 2025 Les Champs Elysees X Ginza Incl. Box
360° view available
Chichibu Paris 2025 Les Champs Elysees X Ginza Incl. Box
In stock
Chichibu Paris 2025 Les Champs Elysees X Ginza belongs to Chichibu's annual Paris Edition, a series the distillery has created every year since 2018. The 2025 release looks beyond Paris alone and sets up a dialogue between famous districts of Paris and Tokyo. In this version, the Champs-Élysées are paired with Ginza, giving the whisky a clear sense of travel, city life and visual contrast.
Chichibu was founded by Ichiro Akuto in 2008, and this edition is built from a notably varied set of casks. The blend includes new French oak, Spanish oak that held sherry, French oak that held Bordeaux red wine, an American oak hogshead, bourbon barrels and two bourbon barrels that contained heavily peated whisky. The whiskies used range from five to fourteen years old, (…)
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about whisky
What is whisky?
Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains (such as barley, corn, rye or wheat) and then aged in wooden casks, usually oak. The result is a complex drink with aromas that can range from fruity and floral to smoky, spicy or woody.
Generally speaking, a drink must meet the following basic requirements to be called whisky:
-
Made from grains
-
Fermented with yeast
-
Distilled to a maximum of ±94.8% alcohol (so that flavour is retained)
-
Matured in wooden casks
-
Bottled with a minimum of 40% alcohol
Which whisky is tasty?
Which whisky is good? Which whisky is good? The answer to these questions is so specific and so personal that we cannot possibly answer them for everyone. In our range of whisky you will find more than 3,000 bottlings, each with their own taste and profile, to objectively identify a universal "good whisky" is impossible.
You can look for the whisky you like in different ways. Either you start from whisky with a fairly flat and neutral flavour profile and expand and explore from there, but other enthusiasts prefer to start at the extremes to quickly discover what they absolutely do not like. We would not recommend that second approach, as whisky with a distinct character is often an "aqcuired taste", something you gradually work towards and often learn to develop an appreciation for as you build your palate.
Are you looking for a whisky for someone else and have no idea what they drink and what they like? If so, limit yourself to whisky with a light and balanced flavour profile. With most of our whisky, you will find a flavour profile where the whisky is rated from 0 to 3 on six basic pillars: peaty, spicy, salty, woody, floral and fruity. If you blindly buy a whisky for someone else, limit yourself to whisky where none of the six pillars slip through. If you do know what kind of whisky the lucky person drinks, then with a bit of luck, you can also find that whisky in our range and from there you can look for other whiskies that have a similar flavour profile.
Is whisky Scotch or Irish?
Both Scotland and Ireland claim the origins of whisky, and both countries have a rich history of distilling it. The earliest written mention of whisky comes from Ireland, from the 12th century. But Scotland has brought the art of whisky making to perfection and today is famous worldwide for its whiskies. Ultimately, whisky is both Scottish and Irish, each with its own unique traditions and flavours.
What is Scotch whisky?
In addition to the basic rules to speak of whisky, there are a number of additional conditions for Scotch whisky.
-
Must be wholly produced and matured in Scotland
-
Aged for at least 3 years in oak casks
-
Only water and caramel colour (E150a) may be added
Which Scottish regions are famous for their whisky?
Scotland is divided into a number of regions, each of which makes its own signature whisky. Exactly how many there are depends on how accurately you want to describe them.
On the Scottish mainland, we talk about
- Highland (Ben Nevis, Ardnamurchan, Edradour, ...)
- Lowland (Johnny Cree, Lochlea, Auchentoshan, ...)
- Campbeltown (Springbank, Kilkerran, Longrow, ...)
- Speyside (Benriach, Tomintoul, Glenglassaugh, ...)
As the first island, Islay is always mentioned separately. From Islay come mainly peated whiskies such as Bowmore, Port Ellen, Bruichladdich and Ardbeg.
You will also find a number of islands around Scotland, called the "Islands". Within that group, another distinction is often made between
- Isle of Arran
- Isle of Harris
- Jura
- Mull (Ledaig, Tobermory, ...)
- Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa, ...)
- Skye (Talisker, ...)
What is Irish whiskey?
To speak of Irish whiskey, the drink must meet a number of additional conditions.
-
Produced and matured in Ireland
-
Aged for at least 3 years in wooden casks
-
Often triple-distilled, but this is not compulsory
What is American whiskey?
American whiskey is also again subject to a number of specific rules, in addition to the basic guidelines to speak of whiskey.
For bourbon whiskey:
-
At least 51% corn in the grain mix
-
Matured in new charred oak barrels
-
Distilled to a maximum of 80% alcohol
-
In the barrel a maximum of 62.5% alcohol
-
No additives allowed (except water)
For rye whiskey, at least 51% rye must be used.
Tennessee whiskey follows the same guidelines as bourbon, but must be filtered through charcoal.
What is the difference between "whisky" and "whiskey"
The difference in terminology is related to the country of origin. In principle, "whiskey" is always referred to, except when spirits from the United States or Ireland are involved. In those countries, the term "whiskey" is consistently used.
What is the difference between single malt, blended and grain whisky?
Single malt whisky comes from a single distillery and is made exclusively from malted barley. These whiskies often have a distinct and characterful flavour profile. Blended whisky is a mix of different whiskies (both malt and grain) and tends to be softer and more approachable. Grain whisky is made from other grains such as corn or wheat and is often used in blends, but also exists as a separate bottling with a lighter style.
What is a "no age statement" whisky?
If a whisky is marked "NAS" or "No Age Statement", it means that no age is stated on the bottle.
When an age is mentioned on the bottle, it must, according to the rules, always be the youngest whisky in the blend and not the age that is most represented percentage-wise in the blend. A producer will therefore deliberately choose not to state an age on his bottle in two cases: when an old whisky is blended with a small proportion of younger whisky, or when young whisky is blended with a proportion of older whisky. In the first case, he does not want to put a young age on his bottle if his blend contains mainly older whisky, and in the second case, marketing-wise it is more interesting to go out with that particle of older whisky.
What is a "single cask" whisky?
A single cask means that the whisky in the bottle comes from only one cask and was not blended with another whisky from another cask. Because the content comes from a single cask, the number of bottles depends on the size of the cask and the evaporation of the product (the so-called Angel's Share), the number of bottles is limited (and often numbered) and no new bottles of this specific reference come onto the market. A single cask is thus always unique in flavour and profile, and never quite comparable to similar bottles that do not come from the same cask.
What is a whisky at "cask strength" ?
A cask strength whisky is not diluted with water before bottling, but goes straight from the cask into the bottle and therefore retains the alcohol percentage during/after cask maturation. One of the advantages of cask strength whisky is that as a drinker you can decide how strong you like your whisky by diluting or not diluting it with a little water yourself according to your preference, rather than the producer having already done this for you. Cask Strength whisky has a higher alcohol content and this can sometimes suppress the subtlety of the whisky.
What does the term non-chill filtered mean?
The term non-chill filtered, or well-known variations of it such as "unchilled filtered" or "not cold filtered", indicates that the spirit was not cold filtered before bottling. During cold filtration ("chill filtration"), the whisky is cooled to around freezing point and then filtered. This process removes certain substances from the spirit such as fatty acids, proteins and esters.
Whisky that does not undergo that specific filtering process has a number of specific properties: they often have more character, the mouthfeel is fuller and oilier and more flavour compounds are retained. Because they have more body, they often feel creamier on the palate and the aromas are more intense. The disadvantage of skipping cold filtering is that the whisky can be cloudier.
Most whisky on the market is chill filtered because it produces a clear and consistent spirit in the bottle and in the glass, even with the addition of ice or water. That consistency leads to better presentation and less chance of consumer complaints. Unchill filtered whisky is especially popular with aficionados and purists for the same reason, because they know and understand why their whisky is the way it is. For this reason, "chill filtered" is usually not explicitly stated, but "unchill filtered" is.
What is a peated whisky?
The term "peat", often also described as "smoky", "smoked" or "peated" is part of the flavour profile that is very typical and recognisable in whisky.
Peated whisky evokes scents of a seaside campfire, a smoky charcoal grill, and sometimes even medicinal, salty notes reminiscent of the Scottish coast. These whiskies have a depth and character that either enchant or terrify aficionados.
Peat is an organic material made up of compressed plant remains, formed over centuries in boggy areas. In Scotland, where peated whisky originated, peat has traditionally been used as a fuel. This later became an integral part of the whisky-making process and resulted in the unique smoky flavour these whiskies are known for.
The distinctive flavour of peated whisky is created in the malt phase of whisky production. Barley is first soaked in water and then spread out to germinate. During this process, the barley begins to develop sugars that are later needed for fermentation. Once the barley starts germinating, drying is interrupted by a fire of burning peat. The smoke soaks into the barley and impregnates it with phenols - the chemical compounds responsible for the smoky flavour.
Which whisky suits my taste (sweet, smoky, fruity...)?
Whisky can be roughly categorised by flavour profiles. Do you like sweet? Then go for whiskies with notes of vanilla, caramel or honey (often matured in bourbon casks). Prefer fruity? Choose Speyside or Irish whiskies with fresh apple and citrus aromas. If you are a fan of powerful, smoky flavours, then Islay whiskies are a good choice. Those who like spicy or woody notes may look more towards whiskies with sherry barrel maturation.
Which whisky is good for beginners?
For beginners, accessible, smooth whiskies without too much smoke or complexity are ideal. Think fruity and slightly sweet styles, such as many Irish whiskies or soft Scottish Speyside whiskies. These often have notes of apple, honey and vanilla and are easy to drink. Avoid strongly smoky (peated) whiskies at first, as that flavour is too intense for some. From there, you can gradually discover which styles suit you best.
Which whisky makes a good gift?
A good gift whisky is usually a safe, accessible choice that will appeal to many people. For example, choose a well-known single malt with a smooth and balanced profile, or a nice bottle in a gift box.
Do you know the recipient's tastes? Then you can choose more specifically: a smoky whisky for lovers of powerful flavours, or a fruity and mellow variant for beginners. In doubt? Then you will always be right with a classic, non-smoky whisky.
What does the designation PPM mean in a whisky?
The abbreviation PPM is used to describe the intensity of the peat flavour in a peated whisky. The abbreviation PPM stands for Phenol Parts Per Million, and the higher the number the more intense the peat flavour is. A whisky with 10 PPM has a subtle smoky character while a whisky with 50 PPM or higher can be a real smoke bomb.
How strong is whisky?
When people talk about the "strength" of liquor, they usually mean its alcohol content (ABV).
Whisky is a regulated product, meaning that a number of conditions must be met before the final product can be called "whisky". One of the rules is the minimum alcohol content: in the EU (including Scotch and Irish whiskey), the US and Canada, whisky must contain a minimum of 40% alcohol by volume to be called whisky.
Many standard bottlings are around 40-43%, some quality or "non-chill filtered" releases choose 46% ABV. In the US, bourbon and rye are also common at 45-50% ABV (e.g. Bottled-in-Bond at 50%). In Japan, 40-43% is common. "Cask strength" or "barrel proof" whiskies are bottled undiluted and are therefore higher in strength: usually between about 50% and 65%. Regional exceptions exist, such as India where many whiskies are bottled around 42.8% ABV,
For average commercial whiskies, 40-46% is the normal range, and you will find most whiskies within that range.
What does the designation "proof" mean in whisky?
You may also have seen "proof" written on bottles, for example "100 proof". It is an alternative way of indicating the strength of whisky and is only used in the US today. The formula is thankfully simple; the "proof" value is actually double the alcohol content (ABV). In other words, a bottle of "100 proof" corresponds to 50% alcohol.
What is meant by "small batch"?
"Small batch" is a term indicating that the whisky was produced in relatively small quantities per batch (production run). Instead of huge volumes being mixed continuously, the distiller selected only a limited number of casks or ingredients to bring together. The idea behind it is to have more control over quality, flavour and consistency, for example by blending a few carefully chosen casks to achieve a specific flavour profile.
Small Batch often suggests craftsmanship and attention to detail, but it is not a strictly regulated term. So there is no set definition of exactly how much "small" is, and it can vary greatly from producer to producer.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive whisky?
The price difference is often in factors such as ageing time, casks used, production method and rarity. More expensive whiskies have usually matured for longer or come from special casks, providing more complexity and depth. However, this does not mean that a more expensive whisky is always "tastier". Taste remains personal, and there are also affordable whiskies of excellent quality that perfectly suit your preference.
What does the age on a whisky bottle mean?
The age on a whisky bottle indicates the minimum time the whisky has been aged in cask. In blends, this means that the youngest whisky in the blend is that age.
During that maturation, the whisky develops its flavour, colour and aromas. The longer the ageing, the more influence the cask has on the final result.
Which whisky is suitable as an investment?
If you are looking for a bottle as an investment, the references we refer to as "Collector" are often a good choice. However, it is no guarantee of success, some bottles rise in values, others do not and in a few cases a sudden hype drives the price up suddenly. For this reason, always keep Jan Broekmans' own advice in mind: don't buy whisky as an investment that you would never want to drink yourself. If the price doesn't go up, at least you'll still have the pleasure of drinking them yourself.
Is older whisky always better?
Not necessary. Older whisky can be more complex and softer, but sometimes loses fresh or fruity characteristics. Quality depends on many factors, such as the cask and the conditions in which the whisky matures.
Ultimately, "better" is a matter of taste. Some younger whiskies can be surprisingly lively and full of character, perfectly matching what you are looking for.
Does whisky mature further in the bottle?
No, whisky matures only in cask. Once the whisky is bottled, the maturation process stops completely.
In principle, the flavour remains stable, although an opened bottle can change slightly after a long time due to contact with oxygen. This is why it is best to store whisky tightly sealed and out of direct sunlight.
Is whisky going bad?
Whisky is a strong drink with a high alcohol content, which means it has a virtually unlimited shelf life. If you have a bottle of whisky that is properly sealed, you can keep it for years, even decades, without its taste or quality deteriorating. However, the flavour can change if the whisky is exposed to light, air or temperature fluctuations. If there is too much air in the bottle relative to liquid then "oxidation" can also occur, directly affecting its flavour and intensity.
So an open bottle of whisky will often lose some of its aromas over time, but it will not "go bad".
Make sure you store your bottle in a cool, dark place and seal it well after each use, and that the bottle is always at least a quarter full (the less air there is in the bottle, the less oxidation can occur). Leftovers are best poured into smaller sample bottles that can be sealed well from the outside air (apothecary bottles are ideal, glass decanters are not), or you can artificially fill the original bottle with, say, marbles to reduce the volume of air in the bottle.
What is an independent bottler?
Independent bottlers are entrepreneurs who buy whisky from existing distilleries and then bottle or blend it themselves. They are not involved in the actual production process, but they take care of the further development of the whisky. This means they select the casks themselves and decide how long the whisky matures, in order to create a unique final product.
Some whiskies are sold exclusively to independent bottlers and are not used for the original distillery's range. Examples of such bottlers include Signatory, Douglas Laing, and Cadenhead's.
There are also 'secret bottlings', where the bottler does not reveal which distillery the casks come from.
Independent bottlings are usually single casks. They are often not coloured, are usually non-chill filtered and very limited in availability, which only makes the product more unique. This constitutes a delightful change from regular whiskies, you could say.
In which glass do you pour whisky?
The classic glass in which whisky is very often poured is called a tumbler. This is a low, straight and wide glass. Some people prefer to drink their whisky from these glasses because of the tradition and the feel it gives. This glass has a wide, cylindrical shape and a thick bottom, making it perfect to use when mixing whisky with other drinks like cola or water, for example, or when you want to add ice to your whisky. It is most often used with bourbon and blended whisky.
However, connoisseurs prefer to opt for a tulip-shaped glass, as it bundles the aromas better in the nose. Snifters and copita glasses, for example, have such a shape, but are still more commonly associated with cognac and sherry. The general consensus therefore seems to be that the Glencairn glass is still usually the best choice to maximise the better whisky. The advantage of all three is that you can hold the glass in such a way that your body heat will not warm up the spirit in your glass.
Do you drink whisky with ice?
The most loaded question is whether you should drink whisky at room temperature or "on the rocks". We take no position on right or wrong and advise everyone to enjoy it in the way that suits them best. If you like a particular whisky better on ice rather than at room temperature, who are we to deprive you of that pleasure?
That said, there are some differences: a room-temperature whisky evaporates more easily, making the nose more intense as with a chilled whisky. In turn, using ice dilutes the whisky, so the flavour and intensity can diminish once that ice starts to melt in your glass. Whisky stones can be a good alternative if you don't like a whisky at room temperature but at the same time don't want your spirit to be diluted by the melting ice in your glass either.
Should you add water to whisky?
Adding water to whisky is not a must, but it can help release aromas better. Especially with whiskies with a higher alcohol content, a few drops of water can make the flavour more accessible.
Most important is personal preference: drink whisky the way you like it best, pure, with water or possibly with ice.
What is a "dram"?
A "dram" usually refers to one serving of whisky. The quantity of a dram is around 3cl, some serve 2.5cl and others go up to 3.5cl. From a 5cl sample or mini-bottle, you basically get just 2 drams, enough to discover a spirit for two.
Handy to remember if you ever want to organise a tasting yourself: from a standard 70cl bottle with a standard filling level you get:
- 35 drams of 2cl (tip: the bottle pilot on our webshop doses exactly 2cl)
- 28 drams of 2.5cl
- 23 drams of 3cl
- 20 drams of 3.5cl
However, do not count too strictly when organising a tasting, and always keep a few drams in reserve in case there is a spillage when pouring or the bottle does not contain exactly 70cl spirit (with older bottlings, the filling level can decrease slightly over time due to natural processes). And don't forget to include the host of your tasting, of course!
What does "angel's share" mean?
The term "angel's share" refers to the part of a whisky (or other matured spirit) that slowly evaporates in the barrel during the maturation process. As the spirit is aged in wooden barrels for years, a small amount of alcohol and water escapes through the pores of the wood each time. This loss can amount to about 2% per year, depending on factors such as climate, storage location and barrel type. The name is meant poetically: it is said that this part is "for the angels".
Although technically a loss for the distiller, the angel's share plays a crucial role in the development of flavour and aroma. The evaporation concentrates the residual flavours, and the contact with the wood provides complexity such as vanilla, spice and fruity notes. In warmer climates (such as rum), the angel's share tends to be greater, resulting in faster maturation than, for example, in cooler whisky regions such as Scotland.
How do I get started on Scotch whisky?
Many people assume that a more expensive bottle of Scotch whisky is automatically better. It sounds logical: the higher the price, the better the quality. But in reality, the difference between a bottle of a few tens and one of thousands of euros is rarely purely in the taste. What you pay has much more to do with age, scarcity, marketing and reputation than with what you actually taste in your glass.
To understand this properly, it helps to look at Scotch in different "levels". Each level tells you something about what you are drinking and, more importantly, what you are paying for, but not every epicurean goes through all these levels.
You can read all about it in our blog post Why an expensive Scotch doesn't necessarily taste better - the different levels of Scotch.
How do I get started on Irish whiskey?
At one time, Irish whiskey dominated the world. In the late 19th century, more than 70% of all whiskey came from Ireland. But wars, trade conflicts and prohibition in the US caused a dramatic decline. By 1980, barely two distilleries remained. Today, that picture has been completely reversed. Ireland once again has dozens of distilleries and the range of offerings ranges from simple entry-level bottles to rare collector's items costing thousands of euros.
But as always, more expensive does not automatically mean better. What do you actually get for your money? And from what point do you mainly pay for prestige? You can read more about it in our blog post Irish whiskey explained: from pub classics to million-dollar bottles.
How do I get started with Japanese whisky?
In 1918, a young Japanese student Masataka Taketsuru left for Scotland with one clear goal: to learn how to make whisky. He studied in Glasgow, apprenticed at several distilleries and obsessively noted down every detail of the process. Those notes would later form the basis of the Japanese whisky industry.
Today, Japanese whisky is a phenomenon. Bottles go under the hammer for tens of thousands of euros, distilleries can barely keep up with demand and the number of producers has exploded. But at the same time, that also makes it confusing: where do you start if you just want to drink it?
You'll discover all about it in our blog post Japanese whisky explained: from entry-level to untraceable.
Where can I buy whisky?
Basic whisky and no-name whisky can be found in any shop or supermarket, but you undoubtedly want something more. Then you're in the right place at Drankenshop Broekmans, because our range of almost 3,000 whiskies covers all brands, all distilleries, all bottlers, all flavour profiles and all price ranges.
