Nikka “Tsuru” Glass Decanter, Special Engraved Cranes Edition
75cl / 43%
£289.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Japan
Tasting Notes
Floral, Fresh Fruit, Hay and Citrus
Spicy, Sour Fruit, Vanilla, Cereals and Toast
Medium Finish, Ginger, Smoke and Charcoal
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Elegant 75cl, 43% Tsuru in a fully engraved glass crane decanter, positioned as a display-grade Japanese blend.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Producer / Country | Nikka Whisky, Japan |
| Category | Japanese blended whisky in collectable glass decanter |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | NAS, bottling 2000s–2010s style (not stated by the producer) |
| ABV & Size(s) | 43% ABV, 75cl (some 70cl/700ml decanters exist) |
| Decanter / Treatment | Special engraved glass with cranes motif (tsuru = crane) |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Outturn | Not stated by the producer (single decanter-format release) |
| Intended channel | Premium retail / Japanese whisky collectables |
| Packaging | Presentation box varies; condition of outer strongly affects value |
| Notes on discrepancies |
Historical Context
Tsuru is one of Nikka’s longest-running prestige blends; the name celebrates the crane, a Japanese symbol of longevity and good fortune. Most collectors first meet Tsuru as a white ceramic decanter with cranes in relief, or as the more expensive Tsuru 17. The glass, fully engraved “Special Cranes” presentation sits in between those two: still decorative, but transparent so the buyer can see the fill, and easy to place alongside European decanters. It reflects the phase when Japanese houses produced a wide range of non-age-stated gift formats for the domestic and Asia-Pacific markets, before age-stated Japanese stock became scarcer. The liquid is Nikka’s house blend style: a mix of Yoichi and Miyagikyo malt with grain, designed to be fragrant and gently smoky rather than old or heavy.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
Documented variants
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Nikka Tsuru Glass Decanter, 75cl, 43%, special cranes engraving, c. £289 UK retail.
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Nikka Tsuru Ceramic Decanter, 70cl, 43%, white ceramic with cranes (different item).
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Nikka Tsuru 17 Year Old ceramic, 43%, premium aged version. Only the first of these is in scope here.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43% | 75cl (glass, engraved cranes) | UK/EU/Japan collectables | Clear glass, cranes cut/engraved | Core for this request |
| 43% | 70cl (ceramic) | Japan/global | Opaque white ceramic, cranes in relief | Parallel but not interchangeable |
| 43% | 70cl, 17yo ceramic | Japan/global | 17 years on label | Above, separate price band |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Look for the cranes engraved or etched on the glass body; plain-glass Tsuru is typically a different issue.
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Capacity and strength must read 75cl, 43%.
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Box: some retailers sell without box; boxed versions command more.
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Check for Japanese back label or UK import strip to date it; either is acceptable for a 2000s–2010s bottle.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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Japanese blended whisky.
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NAS; do not imply age.
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Do not mix with “Taketsuru” (blended malt) when cataloguing.
Liquid Profile (from retailer notes)
Nose: Delicate floral and fresh fruit, citrus, hay, a little vanilla.
Palate: Soft, medium-sweet, cereals, vanilla, faint spice, light toast, a trace of charcoal/smoke.
Finish: Medium, clean, ginger and faint smoke at the back.
With water: Not really needed at 43%, but a splash will open the florals.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
-
Current UK retail range (incl. VAT): £289.00 for a clean 75cl, 43% engraved-cranes bottle.
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Auction range (hammer): Japanese decanters of this level typically clear £180–£240 depending on box and provenance; unboxed or with light wear sits toward the lower half.
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Pricing stratification: boxed, pristine glass and capsule at the top; unboxed but clean glass mid; scuffed or part-evaporated at auction-only levels.
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Liquidity & sourcing note: good among Japanese-decanter buyers; price is largely display-led.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK specialist retail | 2025 | 75cl, 43%, glass engraved cranes | 289 | Current live price |
| UK auction (typical) | 2024–25 | 75cl, 43%, boxed | 220–240 | Condition-led |
| UK auction (typical) | 2024–25 | 75cl, 43%, no box | 180–210 | Visible wear discounted |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Nikka, founded by Masataka Taketsuru, runs Yoichi and Miyagikyo, giving it access to peated/coastal and fruity/elegant malt streams plus in-house grain. Tsuru showcases blending rather than age; the decanter is the premiumiser.
Sourcing
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Target: 75cl, 43%, glass, cranes clearly engraved, ideally boxed.
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Note any chips or scratches; glass shows handling more than ceramic.
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Buy sub-£220 and list around £275–£300 if boxed and 100% clean.
