Eigashima 2011 The Kikou Dekanta 3rd Anniversary (58.4%, Dekanta, Port Ellen Cask #11055, 300 bottles, 2018)

• Category: Japanese single malt whisky
• Origin: Eigashima Distillery
• Bottling: Dekanta
• ABV: 58.4%
• Cost: £493.73

What they say

History In A Bottle

The Kikou bottling pays homage to the rich history of Japanese whisky by maturing in a cask from the world renowned Port Ellen distillery in Scotland. This is an acknowledgement of the Scottish education of Masataka Taketsuru, the industry pioneer regarded as the “Father Of Japanese Whisky.” By learning the process of Scotland’s premiere distilleries, Taketsuru was able to bring those concepts back to Japan and launch the first Japanese whisky distillery.

The Future Meets The Past

Eigashima Distillery is one of the rising stars of the Japanese Whisky industry. A family owned distillery, Eigashima has kept production small in order to retain the high production standards and innovative new offerings.

The Kikou combines the remarkable liquid from Eigashima with maturation in a Port Ellen cask. This is truly a historic marriage combining the future of Japanese Whisky with an iconic Scottish distillery of the past.

Port Ellen distillery stopped production in 1983, ending a legacy that began in 1833. Its iconic whisky is now some of the most sought among collectors.

The Kikou is a remarkable, revolutionary marriage of Eigashima and Port Ellen. A combination unlikely to be repeated ever again.

Beautiful Design

The historic nature of this whisky deserved exceptional delivery. This is a remarkable bottle that includes a hand crafted wooden presentation stand. This is a showcase piece that looks as beautiful as the whisky contained within.

The label depicts a chrysanthemum, a flower local to Akashi City park which hosts the Eigashima distillery. The design draws upon the Ukiyo-e style of Japanese art which flourished in modern Tokyo, then known as Edo, in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The chrysanthemum, like Eigashima distillery, thrives in the saline rich soil of the Akashi City park, breathing the ocean-rich air of the Kobe Bay and offering complex beauty in return. These magnificent, kaleidoscope blooms can be found throughout the park around this special distillery.

What I say

Sampled during the #DekantaWhisky tweet tasting, celebrating the 3rd anniversary of Dekanta, specialist Japanese whisky retailers and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire.

Distilled at Eigashima distillery in Akashi city, a distillery I am familiar with having previously sampled some of their White Oak blended expressions.

This has been matured in an ex-Port Ellen cask for ~ 7 years before bottling in 2018 to celebrate Dekanta’s 3rd anniversary.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: rich golden bronze (12/20), slow rounded, medium tears leave short fine legs.
• Nose: Musty, funky, ozone, shellfish, sweet scallop meat drizzled in orange oil and farmyard butter, barley essence, husks, a little estery bananas fried in butter, salted butter toffee, peanut brittle, a dash of fresh lime juice and nam pla.
• Taste: Palate is a little polished and thin initially, burst of peanut brittle, salted peanuts, buttery and a little citrus lime lasts and lasts, creamy in texture, peanut, pistachio, macadamia, this is mostly nuts.
• Finish: Long, nutty, key lime pie fired over a beach bonfire.

Overall

Delicious rich and nutty, so full of peanut brittle and hints of maritime notes, there are hints of iodine and a little ashen smoke towards the end but this really has that Port Ellen chamois leather mustiness quality that I suspect the producers were hoping for. A great mixture of young whisky and old cask.

Score 90/100

Shop for Dekanta The Kikou (opens Dekanta)

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