Chichibu Distillery II

Chichibu Distillery II was established in October 2019 and began operations as the second whisky production facility by Venture Whisky Corporation under founder Ichiro Akuto. Located in the vicinity of the original Chichibu distillery in northwestern Saitama Prefecture, the facility represents a significant expansion of the company's production capabilities. The distillery operates at five times the capacity of the original Chichibu facility, processing 2 tons of malt per distillation compared to the original's smaller batches. Despite the increased scale, Chichibu II maintains the same pot still design as its predecessor, utilizing larger versions of the same shape to accommodate the higher volume production. The distillation equipment consists of direct gas-fired pot stills manufactured by Forsyth's of Scotland, the same company that supplied equipment for the original distillery. Situated in the deep mountains of northwestern Saitama Prefecture, Chichibu II benefits from the same natural environment that has contributed to the success of the original facility. The location experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with hot, humid summers and cold winters where temperatures drop below freezing. This climate creates favorable conditions for whisky maturation, with the temperature fluctuations contributing to the interaction between the spirit and oak casks. The establishment of Chichibu II forms part of Venture Whisky's broader expansion strategy. The company has announced plans for a third facility, a grain whisky distillery in Hokkaido's Tomakomai region, which is currently in preparation. This planned facility will focus on grain whisky production, initially using North American corn with intentions to incorporate Hokkaido-sourced ingredients as the operation develops.