To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Black Nikka brand, Asahi Breweries, Ltd. and Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd. have announced a series of product launches and packaging updates for the brand's core lineup.
New Canned Highball: Black Nikka Clear Highball
A new canned highball, Black Nikka Clear Highball, goes on sale from April 7. The drink is based on Black Nikka Clear, a blended whisky made with non-peated malt that deliberately minimizes smokiness, delivering a clean, easy-to-drink taste that pairs well with any meal.
The product combines Nikka Whisky's blending expertise with Asahi Breweries' RTD (Ready to Drink) development know-how, achieving a balance of whisky character with a refreshing, clean finish. The packaging features a simple white design with the King of Blenders icon — redesigned to mark the brand's 70th anniversary — and the "BLACK" logo prominently displayed in the center.
The canned highball market in Japan grew approximately 1.4 times between 2021 and 2025. The brand plans to build further awareness through TV commercials featuring the King of Blenders icon and limited-time events.
Package Renewal for Core Black Nikka Products
Black Nikka Clear, Black Nikka Rich Blend, and Black Nikka Deep Blend are all set to receive updated packaging starting from late March, while their contents remain unchanged.
Black Nikka Clear
Black Nikka Rich Blend
Black Nikka Deep Blend
The brand logo "BLACK" has been switched to a more approachable gothic typeface for a cleaner look overall. The King of Blenders illustration has also been updated: on Black Nikka Clear, the stained-glass style has been replaced with a cleaner design, while on Black Nikka Rich Blend and Black Nikka Deep Blend, the character's expression has been redrawn using line art for a friendlier impression.
Black Nikka Special Gets New Volume Options
Black Nikka Special
Black Nikka Special, the original product in the Black Nikka lineup, is also receiving changes. Starting April 14, the previously available bottle volumes (720ml and 1,440ml glass bottles) will be replaced with a 700ml glass bottle and a 1.8L PET bottle, aimed at improving supply stability and convenience.
About the Black Nikka Brand
Black Nikka was born in 1956, rooted in the founding philosophy of Nikka Whisky's creator Masataka Taketsuru — that good whisky should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. In 1965, the brand released "New Black Nikka," Japan's first blended whisky to use domestically produced Coffey grain whisky, and introduced the King of Blenders icon on its packaging. This character was created to symbolize Taketsuru's belief in the importance of blending.
Black Nikka Clear, the brand's flagship product, has been the No. 1 whisky by sales volume in the Japanese domestic whisky market for five consecutive years (2021 to 2025). For this anniversary year, the brand adopts the new message "Your clear time starts here," using the packaging refresh and the new canned highball to communicate the appeal of its signature clean, easy-drinking character.
RTD: "Ready to Drink" — refers to canned products such as chu-hi that can be consumed as purchased.
