(Image Source: LMDW, Minneapolis Institute of Art)

Chichibu's Paris Edition is back for the fifth year running, this time featuring the lithograph works from French Art Nouveau artist, Henri Rivière (1864 - 1951), depicting an illustration from his seminal work, 36 Views of the Eiffel Tower. The book was published in 1902 and was inspired by the work 36 Views of Mount Fuji by renowned Japanese artist Hokusai, famous for his work The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.

(Image Source: LMDW)

Henri Rivière

In 1886, illustrator and printmaker Henri Rivière (1864-1951) became a stage director and set designer for a shadow theatre at the Chat Noir cabaret at the foot of Montmartre. In 1890, influenced by the Japanese prints he collected, he discovered colour woodcuts and learned how to complete every stage in the process, from grinding the colours to printing. Inspired by Brittany and Paris, his artworks made him a key player in the revival of colour prints. He also brought colour lithography fame with several series of landscapes, including 36 Views of the Eiffel Tower.

"From Mount Fuji to the Eiffel Tower, and from one century to another; Rivière and Hokusai’s works echo each other, with East inspiring West and vice versa. In keeping with this artistic pairing, Chichibu once again pays tribute to Paris.

The 2022 edition offers a new incarnation of the converging perspectives of the two countries and the incredible creativity that blossoms from their relationship in the world of spirits."

The Chichibu Paris Edition 2022

Japan, Single Malt - 51.5% ABV

9 Casks (LMDW Exclusive)

(Image Source: LMDW) 

The Chichibu Paris 2022 Edition is a blend of 9 casks of peated Chichibu whisky aged primarily in ex-Bourbon casks, aged for six to seven years. It is said to be "extremely peaty, salty and medicinal, even bringing to mind an Islay single malt. With impressive depth, the palette of aromas and flavors unveils chocolate, spicy and deeply exotic tones that make it both smooth and fresh."

The Chichibu Paris 2022 Edition has a total outturn of 1,900 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Color

Lemon yellow.

Aroma

Rich, concentrated.

On the first nose, a delicately herbaceous, salty and iodine (seaweed) peat fills the air. Allowed to breathe, it takes on fruity (lemon, pear, walnut), spicy and rooty (ginger, gentian) notes. Like an Islay malt, the nose becomes increasingly medicinal (tiger balm), camphoric and ashy. The remarkably full palette of aromas then allows a glimpse of sleet and a very pleasant chocolate, saffron and rustic (dandelion) bitterness.

Taste

Lively yet creamy.

Continuing on from the nose, the attack is empyreumatic (fuel oil, diesel). Very quickly, however, it returns gently to malty territory. The exotic mid-palate (pineapple, kiwi) sits on an earthy, spicy (clove), slightly aniseedy (star anise) and rustic (daisy, wicker) foundation. The deliciously chocolate end of the palate allows a glimpse of a freshly harvested dark peat.

Finish

Long, silky.

The rooty start of the finish bursts with mineral salts and is also honeyed, waxy and creamy (vanilla flan). The salty end of the finish has definitively set down its anchor on the banks of the Isle of Islay. A salty, marine breeze sweeps through the very end of the palate.

The smoky and fishy retro-nasal olfaction recreates the atmosphere of barley drying in a kiln. The empty glass is medicinal.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot