A rare Japanese whisky distilled in 1958 has been added to the menu at Gordon Ramsay’s recently opened Lucky Cat restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate in London, offering a unique opportunity to experience a piece of whisky history.

Shirakawa 1958 (49% ABV) is a single malt from the now-defunct Shirakawa Distillery, located approximately 200km north of Tokyo. It is the only official single malt ever released from the distillery and the earliest known single-vintage Japanese whisky to have been bottled.

Although the exact age and cask type cannot be definitively determined, Shirakawa 1958 was produced at a time when the distillery predominantly used Japanese malted barley and Mizunara oak casks.

Priced at £2,300 per dram at Lucky Cat, Shirakawa 1958 also plays a starring role in Being Gordon Ramsay, Netflix’s six-part documentary series charting the acclaimed chef’s latest venture. In an episode featuring the restaurant, the whisky appears in a shot of the bar, as the construction team discuss concerns about the shelving being knocked down in the busy space.

Established in 1939 in Fukushima Prefecture, the Shirakawa Distillery operated for more than six decades, producing malt whisky between 1951 and 1969 and becoming one of the first distilleries in Japan to do so. Much of its output was used in owner Takara Shuzo’s flagship ‘King’ blended whisky.

The distillery was demolished in 2003, seemingly bringing its story to a close. However, more than a decade later, Stephen Bremner, Managing Director of Tomatin Distillery, became intrigued by Takara Shuzo’s history of malt production.

Following extensive research, he uncovered remaining stocks of Shirakawa whisky at Takara Shuzo’s Kurokabegura distillery in 2019. The spirit, originally distilled in 1958, had been matured in cask before being transferred to ceramic jars. After the closure of Shirakawa, it was moved to stainless steel tanks at Takara Shuzo’s facility in Kyushu, where it remained untouched until its rediscovery.

Commenting on the news, Stephen Bremner, said: “Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd was acquired by Takara Shuzo in 1986, but it was only in recent years that I became fascinated by the story of Shirakawa and its whisky-making heritage. When I discovered that the remaining stock dated back to 1958, I was astounded. It was a genuine ‘wow’ moment, as I quickly realised just how rare it was. Crafted in the early days of malt production in Japan, it offers a distinctive flavour profile, with aromas of exotic incense giving way to grass and fruit, followed by a hint of mint on the finish. It is truly extraordinary and reflects the evolution of Japanese whisky, now celebrated worldwide.”

He added: “We are incredibly honoured that Gordon Ramsay has selected Shirakawa 1958 as the pinnacle of the whisky menu at Lucky Cat. Diners who try it will be transported back to a pioneering era of Japanese whisky, enjoying one of the rarest drams in the world.”

Just 1,500 bottles of Shirakawa 1958 were released in 2022 and distributed worldwide by Tomatin Distillery, for a RRP of £25,000.