NEW1900.04.21 Sat
Tokyo’s Spirit, Perfectly DistilledIntroducing TOKYO WHiSKY
TOKYO WHISKY
TOKYO WHiSKY is a private brand born in 2020. Since then, it has seen only a few limited releases, each selling out instantly—627 bottles in the first and 470 in the second release. Because of its rarity, it’s often referred to as a ‘mythical bottle.’ Not anymore! With the latest edition released in 2024, TOKYO WHiSKY 2024 is taking on a new challenge, scaling up production to 3,000 bottles and becoming accessible to more whisky lovers.
Crafted from seven different malts, TOKYO WHiSKY 2024 builds upon Nagahama Distillery’s single malts (non-peated matured in sherry casks and Mizunara cask-aged), enriched by a 30-year-aged malt from 1990 and a malt distilled in 1996. Its richly layered and deeply matured character has been praised by whisky enthusiasts in Japan and abroad since the series’ very first release.
The person behind TOKYO WHiSKY is producer Takeshi Ikeda. Born and raised in Tokyo, Ikeda believes the two characters that make up Tokyo’s name in Japanese (東 and 京) hold a hidden yet powerful appeal—one that resonates both locally and globally.
“I felt that the excitement of Tokyo—a city where history and innovation, diverse people and cultures all blend together—could also find its expression in a whisky that blends aged malts to create a new perspective.”
—says Ikeda. This was the spark that brought TOKYO WHiSKY into being.
The supervision bears the signature of none other than Takao Mori from MORI BAR in Ginza. A legendary bartender who helped shape the bar culture in Japan, Mori says:
“I’ve long refrained from supervising any specific whisky brand. But when I was introduced to TOKYO WHiSKY—being a completely new brand—it sparked my curiosity. That’s what made me take it on.”
The actual blending work was carried out by master blender Yusuke Yahisa at Nagahama Distillery in Shiga. Layering seven distinct base whiskies and drawing out the essence of Tokyo was not something technique alone could accomplish. It required sensibility and close collaboration.
“The challenge was to create a smooth flow without diminishing the depth and weight of the vintage malts. I wanted to make sure their richness and complexity came through. Ultimately, the aim was not to pit the malts against one another, but to create a blend where they harmonize—each note enhancing the other.”
You can sense a philosophy in his words that goes beyond the boundaries of craft whisky.
Also, the bottle comes wrapped in a traditional Japanese ‘furoshiki’ cloth, specially commissioned from Eirakuya—a long-established confectionery shop in Kyoto. From Kyoto to Shiga to Tokyo, the design of the textile reflects the continuity of Japanese culture, making it part of the story woven into this whisky.
Born from the vision and craftsmanship of producer Takeshi Ikeda, advisor Takao Mori, and master blender Yusuke Yahisa, TOKYO WHiSKY is not just a whisky named after Tokyo.
It is a work of art and a philosophy, one that seeks to capture the elusive soul of Tokyo. It carries the courage to face questions without answers, and the passion to express that mystery in liquid form. All of it is distilled into this one bottle.
“Such high-quality whisky—you just have to try it.”
—remarks Mori, showing his desire that people ‘experience’ TOKYO WHiSKY firsthand rather than just talk about it.
The calligraphy of 東京 (Tokyo) gracing the label was brushed by Somei Isono, the ninth-generation head of the Sekishu-Isa School of samurai tea ceremony—a lineage with over 300 years of history, long responsible for running the tea houses of the Edo shogunate. The ‘furoshiki’ wrapping is a custom piece crafted in Kyoto by Eirakuya, Japan’s oldest cotton fabric shop established in 1615 during the early Edo period. The design weaves together an image of continuity—from Kyoto to Nagahama in Shiga, and on to Tokyo.
Tasting Notes
・Color: Brilliant amber
・Nose: Floral scent with estery hints of green apple and pear. Vanilla and honey notes from the cask emerge midway, followed by a pleasant, spicy touch of cinnamon.
・Palate: Smooth mouthfeel with rum raisin-rich flavors. Firm woody cask character. Oriental and vibrant finish.
Product Specifications
・Product Name: TOKYO WHiSKY 2024
・ ABV: 50%
・ Volume: 700ml
・Ingredients: Malt
・Type: Blended malt whisky
・Country of Origin: Japan
・Bottle Size: H130×W115×D345mm
・Price: ¥33,000 (tax. included)
