To mark its grand reopening on Saturday, August 29, 2026, Hotel Metropolitan’s signature bar, "Orient Express," is celebrating its new era with an exceptional private release. ini partnership with the world-renowned Japanese distillery KANOSUKE.
Under the guidance of General Manager Takeshi Momotani, the new expression is the aptly named "Kanosuke Single Malt Hotel Metropolitan Exclusive." The commemorative bottling is a rare, single-cask expression aged for seven years (an extraordinarily long maturation period within KANOSUKE's portfolio) with only 140 bottles produced globally.
Distilled in 2019 from unpeated malt and bottled in 2026, the whisky hails from the selected cask numbered 19275.
The whisky has been aged in single ex-bourbon casks, with the high-temperature aging process in Kagoshima said to brings out notes of sweet vanilla, caramel, oak, and a smoky accent of German beer malt.
The bottle’s custom label draws direct inspiration from the iconic marquetry vase mural that has adorned the back bar of "Orient Express" since the hotel's debut, finished with sophisticated matte gold and black foil accents
Mirroring the wood inlay craftsmanship of the legendary Orient Express dining cars, the mural was created by skilled Kyoto artisans trained in traditional techniques by official Orient Express personnel.
This mirrors the bar's revamp, which has been made to look as much as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as possible, with its passenger car design paying homage to the traditional luxury train that crossed Europe.
Bottled at 62% ABV, each expression is available at an MSRP of ¥68,000 (for bottle keeping only) and ¥3,400 for a glass.
Kanpai!
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
