To mark the occasion, the brand has just released Nikka From The Barrel Extra Marriage, a new limited-edition expression that builds on the legacy of the globally beloved Nikka From The Barrel in a 500ml size as originally introduced in 1985.

The creation of Nikka From The Barrel originated with Takeshi Taketsuru, nephew and adopted-son of Nikka Whisky’s founder Masataka Taketsuru, who wanted to recreate the richness of whisky that only blenders can nose and taste as they are directly “from barrels.” Master Blender Shigeo Sato and the Nikka blending team met the challenge with the creation of Nikka From The Barrel 40 years ago. Sato and team discovered that resting the blend for three months (known as the “marriage” process) resulted in a soft mouthfeel and exquisite mellowness. In addition, a higher 102.8 proof was identified as the ideal level to enhance the natural richness, as if the whisky is bottled directly from the barrel.

The “marriage” process is conducted at Nikka Whisky’s Tochigi Aging Cellar. After blending all the whisky batches according to the blenders’ recipe, the liquid is filled into used puncheon casks and matured for another three months. In the case of Nikka From The Barrel Extra Marriage, the marriage maturation is extended an additional three months.

“Nikka From The Barrel is a timeless whisky that has been embraced globally as an icon that represents Nikka’s masterful blending artistry,” says Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky Global Business Strategy Education & PR Leader. “With Extra Marriage, we seek to commemorate this acclaimed expression by revealing what more maturation, more marriage of the complex blend, can achieve.”

Like the original Nikka From The Barrel, Extra Marriage is presented in the distinctive cubic bottle that has cemented the expression’s iconic status. Designed by Taku Sato, one of Japan’s most renowned graphic designers, the shape reflects a “small block of whisky,” per Takeshi Taketsuru’s vision for the creation.

6,900 bottles of Nikka From The Barrel Extra Marriage will be available in select markets for $69.99.

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Nikka Japanese Whisky recently announced the release of Nikka From The Barrel in the U.S. Earlier this month, the latest expression of Nikka’s skillful blending hit the shores and shelves of American retailers.

Nikka From The Barrel was created from a blend of more than 100 different batches of malt and grain whisky produced at Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. It’s aged in multiple types of ex-Bourbon barrels and puncheons, ex-sherry butts, refilled, recharred and remade hogsheads.

“Nikka From The Barrel is the best-selling expression outside of Japan,” says Hotaling & Co. president and CEO, Dennis Carr. “We are thrilled to bring this beloved whisky to the U.S. and look forward to seeing the cocktail creativity it inspires in bartenders across the country.”

Considered the founding father of Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru opened his first distillery, Yoichi, in 1934. It’s located where the environs resembled Scotland’s coastal distilleries and direct coal distillation with small pot stills in homage to Scotland’s whisky production traditions Taketsuru studied. Nikka’s second distillery, Miyagikyo, opened in 1969. It is located in a river valley, thereby emulating the distilleries found in Scotland’s Speyside region. It employs indirect steam distillation and larger copper pot stills.

The iconic bottle, designed to reflect “a small block of whisky” is available nationwide for $65.

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