Chichibu 2011 Imperial Stout Cask Finish #5577

I’ve been curious about Chichibu and was able to get a sample of this single cask #5577 Chichibu that was distilled in 2011 and was finished in an ex-Imperial stout cask before being bottled in 2020 at 55.2% exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. The nose starts with roasted cocoa nibs, lychee and sautéed cinnamon apples then honeysuckle and rosemary followed by salted mango, fried bananas, and grilled pineapple that transitions to light spices of ginger, cloves and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a rich creamy mouthfeel starting with sweet and creamy orchard fruit before a moderate spice that quickly fades to honeysuckle and rosemary followed by salted mango, fried bananas, and grilled papaya that transitions to candied ginger, cloves and bakers baking chocolate with medium ethanol burn The finish is long with mango, banana, pineapple, honeysuckle, rosemary, baker’s baking chocolate, leather and polished oak. On the nose, the earthy chocolate from the stout cask is upfront with light fruits but quickly fades to allow sweet florals and herbs before a tropical fruit medley with light spices and polished oak that carries over to palate with a rich mouthfeel starting with an intense fruit blast before a moderate spice that fades to a balanced mix of florals, herbs and sweet tropical fruits with bitter chocolate at the end and finishes long with sweet tropical fruits, light florals, herbs, dark chocolate and polished oak that lingers for minutes while slowly revealing additional notes. This was a truly exceptional dram that drank far older than just 9 years with the stout cask providing earthy chocolate that enhanced the decadent dram packed with tropical fruits, florals, herbs and light spices with a near perfect balance that has more spice than I’d prefer. These bottles appear long gone outside of some outrageous secondary prices, but seem worthy of a sample or pour at a fair price. It’s one I’d recommend anyone to try if they get the chance and I’m certainly going to try to find more samples or bottles at a fair price to explore this distillery further.