Nikka blended whisky in an Arita porcelain decanter painted in the old Imari (Ko-Imari) style, with a flower-basket motif. It holds 720mL and dates from the era of Japan's graded whisky tax.
About This Whisky
Arita, in Saga Prefecture, has made porcelain since the early 17th century, and the richly coloured Ko-Imari style was prized in Europe as an export ware. This decanter uses underglaze blue with iron-red and gold, around a hanakago, a basket of flowers. Nikka filled such decanters with a blend of malt and grain whisky. Bottles of this kind carry the ウイスキー特級 (special class) mark, a grade that existed until the whisky tax system changed in April 1989. The porcelain is the main interest, though the whisky inside is a soft, older-style Nikka blend.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Soft fruit, honey and gentle oak.
- Palate: Smooth and rounded, with mellow grain, a little malt and a hint of sherry.
- Finish: Light and gently spiced, with soft wood.
Serving & Food
If you open it, pour into a small rocks glass with one large ice cube, or enjoy it as a mizuwari with cold water. Kaki no tane crackers, tamagoyaki or a simple mochi go well with it.
How to Enjoy
Display on a shelf or in a cabinet, and as a gift for someone who appreciates Japanese porcelain.
Product Details
Producer: Nikka Whisky
Country: Japan
Category: Japanese blended whisky
Presentation: Arita porcelain decanter, Ko-Imari pattern, flower-basket (hanakago) design
Grade: Special class (特級), pre-1989
Volume: 720mL
About the Distillery
Nikka blends rely on grain whisky from Coffey stills, a continuous still design from the 19th century that keeps more of the cereal flavour than modern columns. Nikka installed its first Coffey still at its Nishinomiya plant in 1963.
In 1999 the stills were moved to Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai, where they still run today. The rounded grain they make gives Nikka's blends their soft texture.