March 2017 Auction

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #158 / Sakura Cask - Only 45 Bottles

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2012 at 62.8%.

This is bottle number 13 of 45.

Karuizawa 1967 Single Cask 42 Year Old #6426 / TWE 10th Anniversary​

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

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining, especially at this age.

Distilled in 1967 and bottled 42 years later in August 2009, this is legendary cask #6426.

Bottled to celebrate 10 years online of The Whisky Exchange.

Please note the condition of the lot

Karuizawa 1967 Single Cask 42 Year Old #6426

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

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining, especially at this age.

Distilled in 1967 and bottled 42 years later in August 2009, this is legendary cask #6426.

Karuizawa 1971 41 Year Old Noh Single Cask #1842

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.  This particular Karuizawa was distilled in 1971 and bottled in 2013 after being matured for 41 years in single Bourbon cask #1842.

One of only 82 bottles released. 

Karuizawa 29 and 30 Year Old Single Casks #8897 and #5347 / Geisha  2 x 70cl

This lot comprises of:

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Single Cask #5347

One of the recent Karuizawa bottlings exclusive to attendees of The Whisky Show, London and carries a stunning depiction of a Geisha, only half though - the other half is found on a sister bottling from the bourbon cask #8897.

Produced from single sherry cask #5347.

Karuizawa 29 Year Old Single Cask #8897

One of the recent Karuizawa bottlings exclusive to attendees of The Whisky Show, London and carries a stunning depiction of a Geisha, only half though - the other half is found on a sister bottling from a sherry cask #5347.

Produced from single bourbon cask #8897.

Please note there are no boxes and shipping will be charged for 2 bottles.

Karuizawa Single Cask 45 Year Old #2725 / Aqua of Life

A spectacular Karuizawa from one of the rarest vintages, this is a 45 year old that spent it's years maturing in sherry butt #2725

Bottle No.279 of 310

This is pretty much as good as Karuizawa gets!

Please note condition of box.

Karuizawa 1969 Single Cask 42 Year Old #8183

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining. There are now not many as old as this and we doubt there will be many (if any at all) that will match this age in the future.

Distilled in December 1969 and bottled 42 years later in August 2012, this is legendary cask #8183  which oddly is a 400 litre ex-bourbon cask.

Please note lifting label corner on box. 

Karuizawa 1969 Single Cask 42 Year Old #8183

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining. There are now not many as old as this and we doubt there will be many (if any at all) that will match this age in the future.

Distilled in December 1969 and bottled 42 years later in August 2012, this is legendary cask #8183  which oddly is a 400 litre ex-bourbon cask.

Karuizawa 1969 Single Cask 42 Year Old #8183

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining. There are now not many as old as this and we doubt there will be many (if any at all) that will match this age in the future.

Distilled in December 1969 and bottled 42 years later in August 2012, this is legendary cask #8183  which oddly is a 400 litre ex-bourbon cask.

Karuizawa 35 Year Old Single Cask #7417 / Water of Life

35 year old Karuizawa matured in sherry butt #7417.

One of only 473 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1970 Single Cask 42 Year Old #6177

A stunning vintage Karuizawa distilled in May 1970 and bottled in August 2012 from a single 450L ex-sherry cask #6177.

Only 312 bottles were released from this cask at a very impressive 64.3% (after 42 Years!)

Karuizawa 1977 32 Year Old Single Cask #4592

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

A fantastic and very limited Noh bottling of Karuizawa, distilled in 1972 and bottled 32 years later from single sherry butt #4592 in 2010.

190 bottles were released.

Karuizawa 1981 Noh Cask 31 Year Old #4676

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1981 vintage was bottled in 2012 as a 31 year from a sherry cask.

Only 186 bottles were produced.

Karuizawa 1976 Single Cask #7818 / Geisha

Another excellent example of a Geisha label, this one was an exclusive for Taiwan.

A stunning vintage Karuizawa distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2010 from a single sherry butt #7818.

Bottle number 225 of 554.

Please note the condition of the box.

Very interestingly, this bottle appears to have an unusual labelling mistake as the front label states 750ml, while the back label states 0.7, and we are unaware of any 75cl bottles other than those which were US imports - of which we know this was not.  However, the authenticity of this bottle we are sure of, as we can attest to its provinence; also, other known-genuine bottles from this bottling have same front/back label mismatch.

Karuizawa 1981 Noh Cask 31 Year Old #4333

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1981 vintage was bottled in 2013 as a 31 year from a sherry butt.

Only 94 bottles were produced.

Karuizawa 1971 Single Cask #6878

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

This particular Karuizawa was distilled in 1971 and bottled on the 15^th January 2008.

Karuizawa 1976 Noh Single Cask 32 Year Old #6719​

A stunning vintage Karuizawa distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2009 after maturing for 32 years in single Sherry Butt #6719.

One of 486 bottles.

Karuizawa Cask Strength Selection 4 x 70cl

This cask strength series of Karuizawa was exclusively released to the Taiwanese market, this includes all four releases.

The cask strength series is a combination of sherry casks from 1999 and 2000 all bottled at 61.7%. 

Please note that there will be a shipping charge for four bottles on this lot. 

Karuizawa 1976 Single Cask #7818

A stunning vintage Karuizawa distilled in 1976 and bottled in June 2010 from a single sherry butt #7818.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #6056 

Karuizawa distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2013 solely for The Whisky Exchange.  

Bottled from cask number #6056, as usual with Karuizawa sherry matured and carrying a high abv.

Karuizawa 1991 Single Cask #259 / Geisha 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 1983 29 Year Old Noh Single Cask #8552

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1983 vintage was bottled in 2013 as a 29 year from a sherry butt.

Only 130 bottles were produced.

Karuizawa 1972 39 Year Old Single Cask #7038

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1972 and bottled the 4th October 2011. 

523 bottles were released.

Please note conditon of bottle as shown. 

Karuizawa 1981 31 Year Old Noh Single Cask #348

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1981 vintage was bottled in 2013 as a 31 year from a sherry butt.

Only 207 bottles were produced.

Karuizawa 1980 Noh Cask Single Cask 32 Year Old  #3565

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

This is a single cask distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2013.

Single cask #3565 an sherry butt that yielded 335 bottles.

Please note condition of box as shown.

Karuizawa 1983 Noh Single Cask 28 Year Old #7576

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

Another Noh single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1983 and bottled 28 years later from single sherry butt #7576

571 bottles were released.

Karuizawa Noh Single Cask 1983 29 Year Old #5322

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

Another infamous Noh single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1983 and bottled 29 years later from single sherry hogshead #5322

205 bottles were released.

Please note condition.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 30 Year Old #7843 / Samurai

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.

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt.

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

Karuizawa 1978 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8383

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

This is a single cask release from a single ex-bourbon cask #8383, distilled in December 1978 and bottled in July 2014.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #3657

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.

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt.

Distilled in 1984 and matured until bottling in 2014, limited to only 288 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 Noh Single Cask 30 Year Old #3032​

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 a sherry butt that yielded 279 bottles.

Please note there is no box. 

Karuizawa 1981 31 Year Old Shinanoya Single Cask  #4961

Bottled for Shinanoya a Japanese food and spirits importer to celebrate their 5th Anniversary in 2012. 

One of 228 Bottles.