August 2016 Auction

Karuizawa Samurai Collection 10 x 70cl

Karuizawa distillery was the smallest distillery in Japan. The distillery was established in 1955  on the slopes of Mount Asama, an active volcano. Karuizawa was mothballed in 2000 and the remaining stocks were thankfully ‘saved’ by Ichiro Akuto.   

Karuizwa’s style was that of a certain Speyside whisky, they almost exclusively used Golden Promise barley imported from Scotland and primarily matured whisky in sherry casks imported from Spain. The key to Karuizawa’s success was the hidden earthiness and peatiness that gave many of their legendary single cask bottlings it’s unique character.

The water source used in production has flowed through the volcanic lava rock and soil that surround the distillery, giving it a unique mineral quality. This high quality led Karuizawa to be the first whisky exported out of Japan but ultimately led to their downfall, as both Japan and the world were not ready to accept such a high quality spirit which was not produced in Scotland. As a result, the distillery was not financially viable, which resulted in a great loss for whisky drinkers but produced an interesting rarity for whisky collectors.

This is the complete Samurai range, an excellently presented collection of 1984 vintage 30 year olds in crafted wooden boxes. Perhaps the most prestigious collection in the whisky world. 

Karuizawa Single Cask #4201 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 358 bottles at 58%.

Karuizawa Single Cask #7857 / Samurai.Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 508 bottles at 57.4%.

Karuizawa Single Cask #7843 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 458 bottles at 58.3%

Karuizawa Single Cask #7963 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 437 bottles at 58.1%.

Karuizawa Single Cask #3622 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 332 bottles at 61.1%.

Karuizawa Single Cask #3620 / Samurai Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 280 bottles at 60.2%

Karuizawa Single Cask #6432 / Samurai. Distilled 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 404 bottles at 63.2%.

Karuizawa Single Cask #3139 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 494 bottles at 55.4%

Karuizawa Single Cask #3656 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 260  bottles at 60.8%

Karuizawa Single Cask #8354 / Samurai. Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 175 bottles at 53.3%

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 10 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask #8317 and Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #6355

2 of the 3 bottles that make up a set of Karuizawa which feature Samurai on the label and box.

• Karuizawa 1980 Cask #8317. One of 257 Bottles. 56.3%
• Karuizawa 1981 Cask #6355. One of 257 Bottles. 59.8%

Please note shipping charge for two bottles.

Karuizawa 1974 The Gold Geisha 40 Year Old Cask # 3626

We love receiving new and exciting bottles of Karuizawa, this one is heads and tails above the rest in many ways.  

Aged for an impressive 40 years, the 'Gold Geisha' bottling was distilled in 1974 and bottled in 2014, presented in a beautiful hard wooden lockable case.

This stunning whisky is the last cask from the 1974 vintage of Karuizawa, cask #3626 which yielded only 392 bottles.

Karuizawa 1968 Single Cask #6955 / Whisky Live Taipei 2010

Distilled in 1968 in the now long closed Japanese distillery of Karuizawa, this single cask was bottled in 2010. 

Matured in a sherry butt this is an older single cask release exclusivley for Whisky Live Taipei 2010. 

Bottle number 123 of 428. 

Please note condition of the box.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #3139 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 494 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #3620 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 280 bottles.

Karuizawa 1991 Geisha Single Cask #259 / One of 85 Bottles 

A new single cask release from Karuizawa distilled in 1991 and matured in single sherry butt before being bottled in 2016

This is one of 85 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #3622 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 332 bottles.

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #6432 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

Distilled arounf 1984 or 1985 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 404 bottles.

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Single Cask #3619

This is a single cask 30 year old Karuizawa bottled for Kinlonz Culture of Hong Kong. 

Matured in sherry cask #3619. 

One of 282 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #4201 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 358 bottles.

Karuizawa 1987 Single Cask #2031 

A single cask Kuruizawa distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2014 after being matured in a sherry butt. 

1 of 83 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #7857 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 508 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #7963 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 437 bottles.

Karuizawa 1975 35 Year Old Single Cask #6736

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.  This particular Karuizawa was distilled in 1975 and bottled on the 14^th June 2010 for Whisky Live Paris 2010.

This is a single cask release from a sherry butt.

Please be aware of the condition of the box. 

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #2961 

From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.

Distilled in 1984 and bottled exclusivley for Japan in 2012. 

One of 350 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #7843 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 458 bottles.

Karuizawa 1977 Single Cask #6994 / The Nectar

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.

Distilled in December 1977 and bottled in 2009 for the Nectar of Belgium.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #7843 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 458 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Noh Cask Single Cask #3032 75cl

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings that we list in our auctions, the labels are fantastic! 

This is a single cask distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2014.

Single cask #3032 an sherry butt that yielded 279 bottles.

Please note general condition of this lot.

Karuizawa 1984 Noh Cask 30 Year Old Single Cask #2030

From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.

Distilled in 1984 and bottled from a Sherry cask #2030 in 2015.

One of 522 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1984 Noh Cask 30 Year Old Single Cask #2030

From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.

Distilled in 1984 and bottled from a Sherry cask #2030 in 2015.

One of 522 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1981 33 Year Old Single Cask #136

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.

Distilled in March 1981 and bottled in July 2014 from a single ex-sherrycasks.

Please note tax seal.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #3186 / P9.COM

From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.

Distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2012 exclusively for the Taiwnese Wine and Liquor store, P9.com.  

Bottled from single sherry butt #3186.

One of 540 bottles.

Please note pencil writing on the box.

Karuizawa 1984 Cocktail Series Single Cask #7975

A single sherry butt of Karuizawa 1984 selected especially by La Maison Du Whisky. There was a range of four \"cocktail\" bottlings released. 

Bottled in 2012.

Please note condition of this lot.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #3186 / P9.COM

From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.

Distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2012 exclusively for the Taiwnese Wine and Liquor store, P9.com.  

Bottled from single sherry butt #3186.

One of 540 bottles.

Please note general condition of this lot.

Karuizawa and Kawasaki Ghost Series #7 / Time Slip 

The latest Nonjatta Ghost series release, #7 is an incredibly exciting release, the whisky is a blend of malt from Karuizawa and grain from Kawasaki - both legendary closed Japanese distilleries.

The whisky was blended at birth and laid to rest in glass, not oak! During the 1980s the liquid was then returned to wood, an ex-Spanish oak that had previously contained Karuizawa spirit.  This 'finishing' or 'Aceing' period occured until bottling late in 2015.

The guys at Nonjatta, perhaps as no suprise got incredibly excited by this, hence after tasting it they realised something had to be done to release this intriguing bottle of whisky.

The label features the print 'The Ghost of Taira no Tomomori Appears at Daimotsu Bay' from Yoshitoshi's 'New Forms of 36 Ghosts'.

Bottle number 82 of 282.

Karuizawa and Kawasaki Ghost Series #7 / Time Slip 

The latest Nonjatta Ghost series release, #7 is an incredibly exciting release, the whisky is a blend of malt from Karuizawa and grain from Kawasaki - both legendary closed Japanese distilleries.

The whisky was blended at birth and laid to rest in glass, not oak! During the 1980s the liquid was then returned to wood, an ex-Spanish oak that had previously contained Karuizawa spirit.  This 'finishing' or 'Aceing' period occured until bottling late in 2015.

The guys at Nonjatta, perhaps as no suprise got incredibly excited by this, hence after tasting it they realised something had to be done to release this intriguing bottle of whisky.

The label features the print 'The Ghost of Taira no Tomomori Appears at Daimotsu Bay' from Yoshitoshi's 'New Forms of 36 Ghosts'.

Bottle number 112 of 282.

Karuizawa and Kawasaki Ghost Series #7 / Time Slip 

The latest Nonjatta Ghost series release, #7 is an incredibly exciting release, the whisky is a blend of malt from Karuizawa and grain from Kawasaki - both legendary closed Japanese distilleries.

The whisky was blended at birth and laid to rest in glass, not oak! During the 1980s the liquid was then returned to wood, an ex-Spanish oak that had previously contained Karuizawa spirit.  This 'finishing' or 'Aceing' period occured until bottling late in 2015.

The guys at Nonjatta, perhaps as no suprise got incredibly excited by this, hence after tasting it they realised something had to be done to release this intriguing bottle of whisky.

The label features the print 'The Ghost of Taira no Tomomori Appears at Daimotsu Bay' from Yoshitoshi's 'New Forms of 36 Ghosts'.

Bottle number 180 of 282.

Karuizawa 1999 / 2000 Cask Strength 2nd and 5th Edition

These popular cask strength Karuizawa come from the same batch of casks as the highly popular Karuizawa Asama series.

Bottled at full strength of 61.0%.

Please note there will be a shippig charge for two bottles. 

Karuizawa 1999 / 2000 Cask Strength 1st and 4th Edition

Released in 2015, this comes from the same batch of casks as the highly popular Karuizawa Asama series.

Bottled at full strength of 61.0%.

Please note there will be a shippig charge for two bottles. 

Karuizawa 1999 Geisha Single Cask #2332 

Another gem from closed Japanese distillery Karuizawa.

Distilled 1999 and bottled 2015, This is from Single Sherry Cask #2332 and bottled at a cask strength of 58.5%.