A collaborative bottle from “TOKYO Whisky Library”—one of Japan’s leading malt bars, boasting a lineup of 1,300 types of whisky—and “Nagahama Distillery”
“TOKYO Whisky Library” (Omotesando / Operated by Edge Co., Ltd.), is releasing a private bottling titled “Single Malt Nagahama Sherry-Q(PX) #3547 for TOKYO Whisky Library,” a private bottling created in collaboration with “Nagahama Distillery” (Nagahama-City, Shiga Prefecture), which is globally acclaimed as one of Japan’s smallest craft distilleries.
1. Single Malt Nagahama Sherry-Q (PX) #3547 for TOKYO Whisky Library
| Product Name | Single Malt Nagahama Sherry-Q (PX) #3547 for TOKYO Whisky Library |
| Age | 6 years |
| Distillation Date | March 17, 2020 |
| Bottling Date | May 26, 2026 |
| Cask Type | Bourbon Quarter Cask |
| Finish | PX Sherry Quarter Cask |
| Volume/Alcohol Content | 500 ml / 53.8% |
| Number of Bottles | Limited to 194 bottles |
| Retail Price | 4,840 yen per shot |
Tasting Notes
[Color]
A deep, beautiful ruby-mahogany color.
[Aroma]
The dominant note is an elegant smokiness, reminiscent of white smoke rising gently.
From beneath this, the fruity notes of ripe red berries and dark cherries—derived from sherry casks—peek through as an elegant layer.
[Taste]
The mouthfeel is incredibly rich, with concentrated fruit flavors spreading pleasantly across the palate.
It possesses a deep richness reminiscent of well-worn leather and dark chocolate.
A powerful, smoky accent derived from heavy peating dominates the profile, delivering a depth and overwhelming body that surpasses its years of aging.
“Kazumasa Okada, Manager, TOKYO Whisky Library”
An aroma reminiscent of opening a package of cherry candy while enveloped in the smoke of a campfire.
On the palate, the texture is smoother than expected, with fruit notes reminiscent of fresh, reddish berries—but these are quickly swept away by a burst of smoke.
As you sense the transition from billowing white smoke to nuances of soot and charcoal, the flavor feels like a search for those lost red fruits.
The PX Quarter Cask doesn’t come across as cloyingly sweet; it has a sense of clarity, with subtle tannins gently adding depth.
With just a tiny amount of water added, the fruit becomes immediately apparent, though by then it has transformed into a smoother sweetness, reminiscent of jam or syrup.
2. Overview
NAGAHAMA Aging Cellar
Staff at the “TOKYO Whisky Library,” where over 1,300 varieties of whisky bottles line the walls, carefully selected one cask (Cask #3547) from the Nagahama Distillery’s aging stock that is worthy of this commemorative 10th anniversary.
This heavily peated spirit, distilled in March 2020, was filled into a bourbon quarter cask and aged at the “NAGAHAMA Aging Cellar”—located in a tunnel along an old road that is no longer in use—before beingit underwent a luxurious secondary aging in a Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry quarter cask. Bottled in June 2026,
this limited-edition 6-year-old, cask-strength (53.8% ABV)
special single-cask whisky, limited to just 194 bottles, was bottled in June 2026.As with the previous release, the label features an image from Yoshitoshi Tsukioka’s ukiyo-e series “Tsukinohyakushi” In keeping with the heavily peated, smoky flavors, the design depicts the Edo Fire Brigade’s First Unit,I-gumi, standing before raging flames with a full moon faintly visible through the smoke.
3. TOKYO Whisky Library
■Location: 2nd Floor, Santa Chiara Church, 5-5-24 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
■Phone Number: 03-6434-1163
■Hours: Weekdays: Lunch 12:00 PM–3:00 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM) / Dinner 5:30 PM–11:00 PM (Last Order 10:00 PM)
Weekends and Holidays: Lunch 12:00 PM–3:00 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM) / Dinner 5:00 PM–11:00 PM (Last Order 10:00 PM)
*Closing times may vary depending on reservation status
■ Seating Capacity: 64 seats
■Service Charge: 10%
■Closed: Open year-round (except during the year-end and New Year holidays)
■Average Price: Lunch: 3,000 yen, Dinner: 6,500 yen
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4. About Nagahama Distillery
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Located in the northern part of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, the Nagahama Distillery is Japan’s smallest distillery.
In 1996, Nagahama Roman Beer—which began producing craft beer as the third brewery of its kind in the Kansai region and has continued to do so for 20 years—launched the Nagahama Distillery on its premises in 2016 and began distilling whisky.
Image source: Nagahama Roman Beer, Nagahama Distillery
Inspired by Scottish craft distilleries, the distillery is characterized by its alambic-style pot stills and ultra-fine line arms, which produce a rich, fruity spirit with a deep, grain-derived sweetness.
Image source: Nagahama Roman Beer Nagahama Distillery
In 2020, “Amahagan”—a blend of overseas malt whisky and malt from the Nagahama Distillery—achieved the remarkable feat of having three out of its four regular series bottles win awards at the WWA ( World Whisky Awards ).
Image source: Nagahama Roman Beer, Nagahama Distillery
Location 526-0056
14-1 Asahi-cho, Nagahama-City, Shiga Prefecture
Access Approx. 4-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station
Approx. 4 km from Nagahama InterchangeStart of Operations 2016 Official Website Nagahama Roman Beer, Nagahama Distillery Tours Tours available. Reservations required via the website. Products Amahagan, Nagahama Single Malt
For more information about the distillery, click below↓
長濱蒸溜所(リカマンホールディングス)｜蒸留所詳細情報酒販業最大手のリカーマウンテングループが擁する長濱蒸溜所。長濱浪漫ビールが創業20周年を記念して設立された日本一小さい蒸留所。jpwhisky.net5. Summary
One of the defining characteristics of the Nagahama Distillery is its specialization in barrel aging.
The Nagahama Distillery has used rare red wine casks in the past, such as Sauternes and Girardot Rouge—making its Pedro Ximénez a must-try.
Although it officially goes on sale on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, it’s already available for purchase by the shot at some stores, so it’s worth trying a shot before buying a bottle.Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
