NIKKA FROM THE BARREL
40TH ANNIVERSARY EXTRA MARRIAGE GIFT SET
JAPAN
This standout trio from Nikka, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the From the Barrel series, brings a number of firsts for a company that has seemingly achieved it all.
First time there's ever been a gift set like this in the country.
First time you can get all three of these bottlings — they're simply not available on their own.
So, you get the sublime Extra Marriage Edition, which takes everything great about the original Nikka from the Barrel expression and amplifies it, PLUS the two partners, if you will, of that marriage: the Malt Pieces of the Barrel and the Grain Pieces of the Barrel.
AND you get them for a fraction of the cost of comparable whiskies in the premium Japanese whisky category, making them, in our book, whiskies for everyday drinking … but which deliver the oomph and maturity of special occasion indulgences.
Nikka’s From the Barrel series has long been among our favorite collections — not, mind you, that we’re out on a limb in saying that.
Nikka From the Barrel was named #1 Whisky of the Year in Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2018, and has only burnished its considerable reputation in the years since. Last summer, The Whiskey Wash declared it "an icon of Japanese whiskey craftsmanship." In the category of "non-age statement blends," the Robb Report wrote this past November, Nikka is "one of the best."
Allow me a moment to unpack what makes these so special.
In the Extra Marriage Edition, we find double the standard cask marriage period (up to six months in oak) allows this blend of over 100 malt and grain whiskies to develop extraordinary depth and harmony. At 51.4% ABV, it delivers rich honey, caramel, and dark fruit notes with layer upon layer of chocolate and spice.
The Malt Pieces of the Barrel is a window onto the muscular side of Nikka's personality, emphasizing contributions from their Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. Peat and smoke announce themselves immediately, followed by wave after gentle wave of malt, herbs, fruit, and spice. A small addition of heavily peated Yoichi whisky aged in American oak adds, not just depth, but backbone; this is a gorgeously structured and surprisingly formidable expression
With the Grain Pieces of the Barrel, we find just the opposite approach. Here the focus is on the softer, more elegant grain component that provides the series' foundational structure. Fresh vanilla and fruit open the show, supported by a cascade of herbs and floral notes and just a touch of chilis. The inclusion of corn and rye whiskies alongside matured Coffey grain, produced in stills imported from Scotland back in 1963, brings a welcome roundness and integration.
In all, you’re not just getting three sensational whiskies; you’re getting a kind of brand portrait of the soul and spirit of this legend, which broke with industry conventions when it debuted in 1985. While other producers chased delicacy, Nikka doubled down on bold, complex flavors delivered straight from the cask (and housed in its distinctive square bottles).
Then as now, the head-shaking thing is that they don’t cost at least twice as much.
Get your bottles today, and taste for yourself why this icon keeps on earning its vast reputation.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, FL, MA, MD, NV & TX. This offer will expire on Sunday, February 22, 2026.