Japanese whisky brand NIKKA has marked the 40th anniversary of its flagship blend Nikka From The Barrel, debuting two new expressions in the UK ahead of Christmas.
Originally launched in 1985 by master blender Shigeo Sato and designer Taku Satoh, From The Barrel was conceived as a high-strength, bold blend – housed in a distinctive small square bottle. The anniversary releases comprise:
- From The Barrel Extra Marriage – a limited-edition blend integrating grain whisky from NIKKA’s Coffey stills together with malt whisky sourced mainly from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.
- Gift set of three bottles – the anniversary gift pack includes the Extra Marriage blend plus two components of the blend, allowing collectors and fans to explore the grain and malt elements separately before tasting the full blend.
The Extra Marriage edition is presented in NIKKA’s original square bottle, now carrying a new silver label marked “Extra Marriage”. According to the brand, it reflects “40 years of expertise”.
Tasting Notes Included
The brand provides tasting notes for the anniversary edition:
- Nose: Honey, beeswax, tropical pineapple, nutmeg, ginger, with a gentle smoke and earthiness.
- Palate: Candied lemon, cocoa powder, roasted cereals, plum jam.
- Finish: Long and satisfying, featuring a flinty, salty peat note.
Availability
According to the announcement, the UK-market releases are timed for the Christmas season. The Extra Marriage expression and the anniversary gift set are available through specialist retailers.
