A special whisky commemorating the 90th anniversary of Nikka’s founding [The Nikka Nine Decades]. Features, taste, and product information.
The Nikka Nine Decades was released to commemorate Nikka Whisky’s 90th anniversary.
This product is the culmination of the limited edition “Nikka Discovery Series” (Yoichi Non-Pete and Miyagikyo Peated, Yoichi and Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast, and Nikka The Grain Whiskey) that has been on sale since 2021, and in the Nine Indicate, there is more malt whiskey, and after blending, it is again cask The product is made using a method that preserves various ingredients by filling the casks again after blending, and then filtering at room temperature.
Currently, Nikka whisky has a strong image as a hard-core whiskey in Japan, but overseas, it has gained a reputation for being innovative and is used in a variety of cocktails. In order for people to experience this sensation, Nikka Whisky POP UP bars in Japan and numerous events abroad are being vigorously held.
As a future step toward becoming a world-class whiskey, we would like to invite you to taste the Nine Decades as a culmination of the past.
1. photo of the bottle and label
THE NIKKA NINEDECADES
2. characteristics of THE NIKKA NINEDECADES
The original sake used is
- Yoichi malt from 1945
- Malt from the soon-to-be-established Miyagikyo distillery
- Grain from the Moji factory and Satsumasa distillery
- Ben Nevis malt
- Café Grain and Café Malt
- Discovery Series” aromatic yeast malts, etc.
The theme is diversity and tradition.
The design symbolizes Nikka Whisky pioneering the times.The diversity of the skills handed down and the original sake produced.
The product design reflects the unparalleled individuality of Nikka Whisky.
When you open the heavy wooden box, you will see the signatures of the eight previous blenders, from the first master blender, Masataka Taketsuru, to the present day, on the mirror inside the door. The bottle of THE NIKKA, designed to resemble the overlapping collars of a kimono, expresses the depth of a blended product.
On the front side, the name of the bottle is simply written, and on the back side, Roman numerals indicating the nine Decades and the venerable Nikka emblem are engraved in Edo carving®, a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and sandblasting techniques.
The engraving of the two sides of the front and back is extremely difficult and involves a high level of craftsmanship.
On the seal, 18 nine-sided squares are arranged on a checkerboard pattern that represents the individuality of the six distilleries/factories in six different colors, expressing a beautifully harmonized blend.Edo carving® is a registered trademark of Matsuura Blast.
Reference: Nikka Whiskey official website
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Dense sweetness like apple pie and raisins, savory toast-like barrel-aged aroma, mild smokiness, nostalgic retro aroma like antique furniture, and diverse aromas overlap in a complex way, making you feel as if you are in a cellar where the original sake is quietly sleeping. |
| Taste | Based on a rich and thick oakiness, it has a spicy feel reminiscent of cinnamon, roasted nuts, dark chocolate richness, peat bitterness, accompanied by sweetness like apricot jam and maple syrup, and a sense of warmth like being in front of a fireplace. |
| Aftertaste. | A heavy, pleasant bitterness lingers for a long time, accompanied by mild peat, deep richness and sweet-sourness. |
Reference: Nikka Whiskey official website
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 48% (alcohol by volume) |
| Distillate | Blended Whiskey |
| Cask type | Cask type |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 2,000 bottles in Japan, 2,000 bottles overseas |
| Suggested retail price | 330,000 yen (including tax) |
| Release date | July 2, 2024 |
3. Awards
No awards received at this time.
Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | THE NIKKA NINE DECADES |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | Tax included: 330,000 yen |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercarirange from 418,000 to 500,000 yen ( as of 10/22/2024). (As of 10/22/2024)
4-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
Resales on Yahoo! A uction are priced at about 420,000-500,000 yen. (as of 10/22/2024)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
The price was sold at 540,000 yen. (*as of 2024/10/22)
4-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At BAR Shinkai, which is operated by this site, it is offered in small quantities such as 1 cup, 45ml: 99,660 yen, 30ml: 66,440 yen, 15ml: 33,220 yen, etc.
5. Manufacturer
Nikka Whiskey Company, Ltd.
| Establishment | 1934 (Showa 9) |
| Head office | 4-31, Minami-Aoyama 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8616, Japan |
| Distilleries owned | Yoichi distillery, Miyagikyo distillery, Ben Nevis distillery |
6. distilleries
Yoichi distillery
| Address | 7-6 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido 046-0003, Japan |
| Start of operation | 1936 |
Hokkaido’s Yoichi Distillery is known as the “Scotland of Japan. The distillery was established in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, a.k.a. Massin, as the predecessor of Dainippon Fruit Juice Co. Masataka Taketsuru believed that a cool and humid climate similar to that of Scotland , a rich source of water, and clear, dignified air were essential for ideal whiskey production, and selected Yoichi, located at the base of the Shakotan Peninsula west of Otaru, among various candidate sites. Masataka Taketsuru’s goal for his first distillery was to create a heavy and powerful malt whiskey. He was determined to reproduce the whisky-making methods he had learned at distilleries in Scotland without making any compromises. Symbolic of this commitment are the ” straight head pot still ” and ” direct coal-fired distillation. This process produces a heavy, aromatic, heavy peat base, resulting in a unique single malt with a peaty, salty aroma. This distillation method is based on the Longmorn distillery, where Taketsuru himself studied. If it is necessary to make authentic whiskey, we will follow it, even if it is inefficient. Such passion, which can be said to be the origin of Nikka Whisky, and Masataka Taketsuru’s passion for his dreams are still being passed down today.
Yoichi Distillery official website
For more information about Yoichi Distillery, please refer to this article.
7. Summary
This bottle is truly the culmination of Nikka Whisky. The names of the blenders from Masataka Taketsuru onward are engraved on the inside of the box containing the bottle.
This is one of Nikka’s 90th anniversary measures, and the recently released Nikka Frontier is also one of these measures.
In the future, in order to increase production, the company will first expand its storage facilities, followed by an increase in production. It may take some time until a stable supply of products is available, but we hope that we will be able to buy Yoichi and Miyagikyo whiskey with the number of years on the label again.
