Rani Permata
Jul 24, 2026
NIKKA WHISKY CELEBRATES THE ICONIC WITH TWO NEW RELEASES
TO MARK ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
To celebrate NIKKA FROM THE BARREL, Nikka Whisky has released two new creations, NIKKA From the Barrel Extra Marriage, and a gift set of three bottles designed around NIKKA From the Barrel Extra Marriage.
In 1985, Nikka Whisky released a bold whisky packaged in a small square bottle that over the decades has become a true icon named NIKKA FROM THE BARREL.
Going against the grain of the trends of the 1980s, the Japanese producer chose to draw the whisky’s rich character from its source - directly from the barrel – delivering it to consumers in its purest form.
Designed to be a secret of those-in-the-know, this carefully crafted blend stands out by its power and precision. Master Blender Shigeo Sato’s steady hand and designer Taku Satoh’s minimalist style were brought together to create this artisanal expression based on the concept; aiming to deliver the richness of whisky like “from the barrel”.
EXTRA MARRIAGE
40 years after NIKKA FROM THE BARREL was first created, it is back in a new and original version - Extra Marriage - an anniversary edition that takes the original model and pushes it even further, benefiting from a cask marriage period twice as long. Here, time is key, enabling the blend to gain in complexity and reach the very pinnacle of balance. In this anniversary edition, the extended marriage period brings added depth, refining the textures and instilling great harmony through a perfect combination of power and finesse.
Within the iconic bottle lies a blend of rare complexity, sculpted from over 100 carefully chosen whiskies, led notably by the two distilleries founded by Scotland-educated Masataka Taketsuru.
The first, Yoichi, is known for its intense peated and marine malt. The second, Miyagikyo, is more supple and fruity, bringing additional nuance. The grain whiskies - created primarily from corn and distilled in the iconic Coffey stills imported from Scotland in 1963 - offer roundness and structure.
This powerful and complex anniversary edition highlights the distinctive traits of each of the whiskies in its composition, further enhancing their expression through an extended marriage period.
Presented in its original bottle and adorned with a new silver label stamped with the words Extra MarriageExtra Marriage, this whisky is a tribute to 40 years of expertise.
Japan - Blended whisky
51,4% - 50 cl.
Limited edition.
RRP: €55
Available from the end of September in La Maison du Whisky stores, from all good wine merchants and online at whisky.fr.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: rich, deep.
Opening on notes of beeswax, iris butter, roasted pineapple and nutmeg, the nose is gradually enveloped in root ginger, malt and earth aromas (oily peat). Allowed to breathe, chocolate and honey tones develop (heather, lime blossom).
Palate: lively, sharp.
The palate reveals notes of medicine (ointment), smoke and lemon (zest), as well as the same honey dimensions found on the nose. Then focusing on powdered cocoa, cereals (corn, malted barley) and jam (apple, Mirabelle plum), a dry, mineral salt-rich peat gradually emerge.
Finish: energetic and silky.
The finish is also invigorating and medicinal, before being softened by flavours of barley sugar, bitter almond and candied ginger. With remarkable depth and originality, the retro-nasal olfaction blithely ventures into the heady and opulent universe of American rye whiskey.
Profile: Rich and deep.
Wax, peat, Mirabelle plum.
GIFT BOX 3 BOTTLES
To mark this anniversary, the Japanese producer is also releasing a limited edition gift set featuring three expressions bottled in the iconic square bottle. Designed as an immersion into the blend, this triptych is a rare opportunity to discover both the anniversary bottling Extra MarriageExtra Marriage and two of the main components that shape its trademark character - the malt whiskies and grain whiskies. Staying true to the Nikka Whisky philosophy, this approach highlights the art of aromatic balance by showcasing the different identities of each element before they meet, enabling the taster to explore the precision and symbiosis that have, for 40 years, ensured Nikka From the Barrel’s renown and unique character.
In the heart of the gift set, NIKKA From the Barrel Extra MarriageExtra Marriage is identical to the original recipe, undergoing a marriage period that lasts twice as long. This longer ageing has increased the complexity and harmony of the ensemble, refining its contours and amplifying the aromatic depth. It is an energetic and sophisticated bottling that pays fitting tribute to the distinctive traits of each of the whiskies in its composition with deft and skilful balance.
By its side, Malt Pieces of the Barrel offers the chance to explore the malt elements in the blend. Its bold character develops pronounced notes of peat and smoke, with a palate that travels through intense nuances of malt, herbs, fruit, spices and medicinal flavours. This bottling reveals the richness and structure that Yoichi and Miyagikyo bring to the final blend.
A small amount of Yoichi’s heavily peated, and new American oak batch have been added, resulting in a satisfying finish as a single expression.
Lastly, Grain Pieces of the Barrel explores the other side of the composition - the grain whiskies. Naturally expressive, it offers a delicious tapestry of vanilla, fruit, herbal and floral notes that bring an explosion of freshness to a warm backbone of heady notes, spices, chili and subtle medicine. This unique balance reflects the fundamental role the grains play in providing roundness and consistency. A touch of Satsumatsukasa’s corn & rye whisky and matured Coffey grain added to the base components make this expression melodic and vibrant.
By combining these three expressions, this gift set provides rare insight into the creation of NIKKA FROM THE BARREL, offering the chance to understand each element individually before experiencing their perfect harmony in Extra MarriageExtra Marriage. It is an invitation to delve into Nikka Whisky’s expertise and to celebrate 40 years of skilled craftmanship and exacting standards.
Limited series.
RRP: €290 incl. VAT
Available from mid-October in La Maison du Whisky stores, from all good wine merchants and online at whisky.fr.
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PRESS CONTACT
Camille Grenier
8, Cité Rougemont,
75009 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 47 34 40 60