March 2017 Auction

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 31 Year Old #78 / Prendre le Rythme

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings, these labels are fantastic!

Prendre le Rythme was a single cask bottled exclusively for La Maison Du Whisky, distilled in October 1981 and bottled in July 2013.

Single Sherry Butt #78 yielded a shy 375 bottles.

Karuizawa 1972 Single Cask 36 Year Old #7290

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1972 and bottled 36 years later in 2008.

528 bottles were released from single sherry butt #7290.

Note marks on lid.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 30 Year Old #4201 / 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 358 bottles.

Please note there is no box for this lot.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #7924

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1981 and bottled on 21st October 2011 at 56.6%.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #7982 / Whisky Magazine Japan Edition

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1981 and bottled over 30 years later in 2012. This was matured in a sherry butt and released for Whisky Magazine.

Bottle number 58 of 407. 

Please note condition.

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 1981 31 Year Old Single Cask #162

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim including the whiskies bottled within their 'Cocktail Series' sold exclusively by La Maison Du Whisky.

This Karuizawa was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2012 from single sherry butt #162, which yielded 584 bottles.

Please note the general condition. 

Karuizawa 1985 Single Cask #2364

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

This Karuizawa was distilled in August 1985 and bottled in August 2015 and matured in ex-sherry cask #2364. 

Please note condition of lot.

Karuizawa 1973 Single Cask #6249 Martin's Selection

Distilled in 1973 and bottled in March 2008 after being matured sherry butt 6249.

Bottle #150 of 342 bottles.

Please note general condition and fill level.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 33 Year Old #136

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

Distilled in March 1981 and bottled in July 2014 from a single sherry cask.

Label display artwork, #60: Artifices 009, designed by Singapore artist Warren Khong.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 33 Year Old  #152

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 earlier this year as a 33 year from an ex-sherrycask.

Only 566 bottles were produced and sold exclusively by La Maison Du Whisky, Paris.

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 sherry cask.

Label display artwork, #60: Artifices 009, designed by Singapore artist Warren Khong.

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask 34 Year Old #6476 / Artifices Series #014 Warren Khong

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

Distilled in March 1980 and bottled in July 2014 aged 34 years.

Single cask #6476 is an ex-bourbon cask.

Label display artwork, #014: Artifices 009, designed by Singapore artist Warren Khong.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 34 Year Old #152

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 earlier this year as a 34 year from an ex-sherrycask.

Only 566 bottles were produced and sold exclusively by La Maison Du Whisky, Paris.

Please note there is no box.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 30 Year Old #8173

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 1984 vintage was bottled earlier this year as a 30 year from an ex-bourbon cask.

Only 363 bottles were produced and sold exclusively by La Maison Du Whisky, Paris.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #8309

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.

Note that the cask number does not feature on the bottle label but we have verified it's authenticity.

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #7436 / Geisha

Another gem from closed Japanese distillery Karuizawa.

Distilled 1999 and bottled 2016, This is from Single Sherry Cask #7436 and bottled at a cask strength of 60.6%. 

One of 484 Bottles

Karuizawa 1985 Single Cask 22 Year Old #7017

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

This Karuizawa was distilled in 1985 and bottled on the 16th October 2009. Matured in cask #7017. 

Please note condition of box as shown. 

Karuizawa Noh 27 Year Old Multi Vintages Batch #1

La Maison Du Whisky released a number of multi-vintage Karuizawa's, bottled under the Noh release brand.

This is the original multi-vintage Karuizawa from 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 bottled October 2011.

The whisky used was from Sherry Butts and Bourbon casks; numbers #6405, #4973, #8184 and #6437.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 29 Year Old #7802

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

Distilled in 1984 and bottled from a Spanish oak sherry butt #7802 in 2014.

This release was exclusive to the Norwegian market. 

Karuizawa 1994 Noh Single Cask 21 Year Old #6149

A single cask Karuizawa bottled within the infamous 'Noh' series.

Distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2016 from a single sherry cask #6149, which yielded 380 bottles.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #103

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 25th May 2007

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 29 Year Old #7802

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

Distilled in 1984 and bottled from a Spanish oak sherry butt #7802 in 2014.

This release was exclusive to the Norwegian market.

Karuizawa 1989 Noh Single Cask 23 Year Old #7893 / Primeus Germany Exclusive

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

This bottle is from another famous Noh single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1989 and bottled 23 Years later from single sherry butt #7893.

302 bottles were released exclusively to Primeus GmbH in Germany.

Karuizawa 1985 Single Cask 22 Year Old #7017

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

This Karuizawa was distilled in 1985 and bottled on the 10th October 2009 and matured in cask #7017. 

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #6256

Distilled in 1981, matured in a first fill sherry cask and the bottled in 2011 at cask strength.

One of 573 Bottles.

Please note condition of box.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #103

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

Another cracking single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1981 and bottled 26 years later on the 25th of May 2007.

In 2007 this won a gold medal from Malt Maniacs and their was the overall winner of their Japanese Category. 

Please note condition of box ans lable.

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 278 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 244 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 218 of 282.

Karuizawa 1995 Single Cask 16 Year Old #5006/ Shinanoya Private Cask 5th Anniversary

This closed Japanese distillery is currently the hottest thing in single malt. 

Distilled in 1995 and bottled after 16 years for Shinanoya (A high end Japanese shop)

One of 180 bottles. 

Please conditon as showm, including label and writing on box.

Karuizawa 1990 Single Cask #679

A rare single cask Karuizawa bottled in 2012 bottled at cask strength for The Whisky Exchange, from a single first fill sherry butt #679.

Please note the condition of the lot.