The world’s foremost online retailer of rare Japanese whisky, dekantā, have revealed the Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series as the company’s first private label bottling of Japanese whisky, to mark their third anniversary.

This first private label, single cask whisky from dekantā, home to the world’s largest online inventory of Japanese whisky, spotlights a little known Japanese whisky producer, while paying homage to the origins of Japanese whisky making in Scotland. The Eigashima 2011 Kikou
– Ki Series (US$650; 58.4% ABV) was finished in a cask freshly emptied of Scotch Whisky from the currently ‘silent’ Port Ellen distillery. This is a highly limited release; only 300 bottles will be available. dekantā delivered the highly anticipated release as part of an exclusive event at Mayfair restaurant and bar Sexy Fish, which boasts Europe’s largest on-trade collection of Japanese whisky.

The Eigashima 2011 Kikou will be the first in the Ki Series of independently bottled Japanese whiskies from dekantā, so called because each whisky in the series will explore an aspect of life imbued with the Japanese concept of Ki – one of the most meaningful words in the Japanese language. The Kikou bottling is named after the Japanese word for ‘climate’, celebrating one of the most vital parts of Japanese whisky making. Drawing on the Ukiyo-e style of Japanese art, the label depicts a chrysanthemum, a flower local to Akashi City park which hosts the Eigashima distillery, and which also relies on the local climate to thrive.

“We have come a long way in three years and are delighted to present such a unique independent bottling of Japanese whisky to the dekantā family worldwide,” said dekantā director Makiyo Masa. “Closed in 1983, Port Ellen is now an eminent name in Scotch whisky, the Karuizawa of the Scotch whisky world. Our first private cask bottling marries the
characteristics of two internationally renowned distillers.” Tasting notes indicate the Scottish seaside influence of the Port Ellen cask: A floral burst on the nose is followed by coastal notes, seaweed, beach bonfire, lemon sherbet and citrus; Lemon sherbet on the palate turns ashy, with a touch of earthiness, embers, flame roasted coffee beans, and the finish delivers burnt toffee, dry, sweet peat and dry roasted peanuts.

Eigashima 2011 (Kikou – Ki Series) will be available for worldwide delivery from dekanta.com starting on June 15th.