May 2018 Auction

Karuizawa 1965 Single Sherry Cask 50 Year Old #2372​ 

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

A special release from La Maison Du Whisky, this vintage Karuizawa was distilled in 1965 and matured in a sherry cask. 

Bottle number 30 of only 300.

Karuizawa 1965 Single Bourbon Cask 50 Year Old #8636 

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

A brand new release from La Maison Du Whisky. A 1965 vintage Karuizawa matured in a bourbon cask. 

Bottle number 137 of only 199 produced.

Karuizawa 1965 Single Sherry Cask 50 Year Old #2372​ 

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

A special release from La Maison Du Whisky, this vintage Karuizawa was distilled in 1965 and matured in a sherry cask. 

Bottle number 275 of only 300.

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend Complete Collection 6 x 70cl

Never available at retail, this collection was only given to very important Diageo types. Very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of this essential part of Johnnie Walker history.

Incredibly rare, this is the complete 6 bottle collection consisting of annual releases between 2008 and 2013, each with their own unique presentation, design and character, yet all unmistakably Johnnie Walker.

• 2008 Release: ​​This grain whisky celebrates sweetness as the biggest component of any Blended Scotch.
  One of 450 bottles
  46%
   
• 2009 Release: A celebration of smokiness. This release contains Islay single malt whisky.
  One of 504 bottles
  43%
   
• 2010 Release: The rich smell of Autumn Fruit, focussed around the fruity flavours found in Johnnie Walker blends, using a generous number of sherry casks. This bottle features one of 6 different screen-printed labels by artist Lewis Moberly.
  One of 450 bottles
  65%
   
• 2011 Release: The effect of Wood on Whisky with packaging displaying the rich colour of oaked whisky, glorified through luxurious minimalism and delicate detailing. Featured in Ian Buxton's book, 101 Legendary Whiskies You're Dying to Try But (Possibly) Never Will.
  One of 504 bottles
  46%
   
• 2012 Release: Celebrating the aroma of Fresh Fruits. Instead of using the label to describe the contents of the bottle, LOVE design agency chose to use it to celebrate the recipient of the Blend, drawing inspiration from Johnnie Walker’s ‘Keep Walking’ philosophy.
  One of 504
  43%
   
• 2013 Release: Celebrating Malt and the deep resonance that aged Malts bring to the blend. Declared by Dave Broom to be one of the best whiskies of 2013.
  One of 588
  46%

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 6 bottles. 

Karuizawa 33 Year Old Sherry Cask #3579 / Golden Geisha

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

The 2 highly saught after Gplden Geisha releases were available to purchase by winners of a raffle hosted by The Whisky Exchange.

Aged for 33 years in sherry cask #3579 this bottle is number 67 of 129.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1968 Single Cask #6955

Distilled in 1968 in the now long closed Japanese distillery of Karuizawa, this single cask was bottled on 17th June 2010. 

42 Year old Karuizawa is extremely rare. 

Karuizawa 1968 Single Cask #6955

Distilled in 1968 in the now long-closed Japanese distillery of Karuizawa, this single cask was bottled on 17th June 2010. 

42 Year old Karuizawa is extremely rare. 

Johnnie Walker Old Highland Whisky Circa 1907-1909 / White Label

Although not its official title at the time, this bottle of Old Highland Whisky was to become the Johnnie Walker White Label in 1909 after a re-branding exercise that saw all of their expressions renamed after their label colours and begin to feature the famous striding man, yet to appear here.

While the re-branded White Label was a 6 year old blend, the original Old Highland Whisky was a 5 year old.

The label on the bottle touts Johnnie Walker's Christchurch Exhibition award in 1907, meaning this example must have been bottled somewhere during the 2 year period between then and 1909, making this a wonderfully old bottle. It is not often that we can include the first world war when referring to pre-war whiskies!

There are no volume of ABV measurements on this bottle.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 29 Year Old #8897 / Geisha Label

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in 1984 and bottled after 29 years of maturation.

Produced from single Bourbon cask #8897.

This bottle is one of a pair which were released for The Whisky Exchange's 2014 Whisky Show; the other bottle being a single Sherry cask #5347 which features a mirror-image label.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #895 and Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #7721

Karuizawa 1999 Cask Strength Single Cask #895 Distilled in 1999 in 2000 and bottled in 2016 after maturation is a sherry cask. 59.0%. One of 320 bottles.

Karuizawa 2000 Cask Strength Single Cask #7721 distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2016 after maturation is a sherry cask. 59.0%. One of 367 bottles.

Please note there is a shipping charge for two bottles with this lot.

Karuizawa 1977 Single Cask #3584 / Geisha Label

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in 1977 and bottled in 2011.

Produced from a single sherry butt, cask #3584, which yielded only 169 bottles. This is Bottle No. 80.

Bottled at cask strength, Taiwan exclusive.

Hanyu 1991 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #371 / Five of Clubs​

A single cask #371 Hanyu, bottled within the Ichiro's Malt 'Card' series of whiskies.

Distilled in 1991 and matured in a hogshead before being moved into a Mizunara hogshead for a second maturation period. 

Bottle 30 of 372.

Hanyu 1991 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #401 / Nine of Clubs​

Distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2011 from cask #401. 

Initially matured in hogshead prior to being finished in a Bourbon barrel.

Bottle number 133 of 238. 

Hanyu 1991 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9001 / Jack of Clubs​

A single cask #378 Hanyu bottled within the Ichiro's Malt's legendary Playing Card series of whiskies.

Distilled in 1991 and matured in a hogshead before being moved into a Red Oak Head hogshead for a second maturation period prior to being bottled in 2010. 

Bottle 160 of 329.

Karuizawa 1971 Single Cask #6878

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in 1971 and bottled 15th January 2008 from single cask #6878.

Bottled at cask strength.

Hanyu 1988 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9108 / King of Clubs​

A single cask Hanyu, distilled in 1988 and matured in a hogshead prior to being finished in an ex-Cognac cask and bottled in 2010. 

This is the King of Clubs face card in the legendary series of Playing Card bottlings by Ichiro's Malt.

Bottle number 267 of 417. 

Highland Park 1958 40 Year Old

A legendary 40 year old Highland Park released alongside branded decanter and a book which celebrates Highland Park and Orkney.

This magnificent whisky is presented in a lockable hardwood case.

Hanyu 1988 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9003 / King of Diamonds​

A single cask Hanyu distilled in 1988 and matured in a hogshead prior to being finished in an American Oak Sherry Butt and bottled in 2006. 

Bottle number 109 of 555. 

Karuizwawa 1976 Single Cask #7818 / Geisha Label

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2010.

Produced from single cask #7818, which yielded 554 bottles. This is bottle number 152.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1977 Single Cask #4010 / Geisha Label

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in 1977 and bottled in 2012

Produced from a single sherry butt, cask #4010, which yielded only 427 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength for Taiwan.

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.

Hibiki 17 Year Old Mount Fuji Limited Edition

Suntory released this special edition to Commemorate Mount Fuji, the highest peak in Japan, getting added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2013. 

The Hibiki, whose bottle always has 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar has been redecorated with a painting of a scenic view of Mount Fuji. 

Hanyu 1990 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #527 / Ten of Diamonds​

Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2011. 

First matured in a hogshead and then re-racked into an American oak puncheon. 

Bottle number 254 of 585. 

Karuizawa 1980 Golden Samurai

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

Distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015, this was a dream dram at The Whisky Exchange's Whisky Show in London 2015. 

Rather than being put on general release, this was made available to attendees of the show (The Whisky Exchange is the retail arm of Speciality Drinks who are the sole distributor of Karuizawa in the UK). The attendees entered a raffle with the lucky few purchasing the bottle.

The front label depicts a Golden Samurai and the rear label tells the following tale : \"On the Nakasendo trail from Kyoto to Edo, when the shogun wielded real power in Japan, there was a place for Samurai Warriors, feudal lords and their servants to stop and take stock of their journey. A place to gather and unwind, to celebrate and steel themselves for the journey ahead. That place was Karuizawa.\"

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #2100

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

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

Bottle number 158 of 409. 

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #2042 / Geisha Label​

A very rare single cask Karuizawa originally bottled exclusivley for Taiwan in 2012.

Distilled in 1981 and matured in a single Sherry Butt #2042 and bottled at 56.7%. 

The label depicts a coquettish Geisha. 

Bottle number 23 of 440. 

Karuizawa 1979 Single Cask #8187

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in January 1979 and bottled in July 2014 after 35 years of maturation.

Produced from single ex-bourbon cask #8187.

Bottled at cask strength, exclusively for La Maison du Whisky, France.

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.

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Karuizawa 1979 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8187

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled in January 1979 and bottled in July 2014 after 35 years of maturation.

Produced from single ex-bourbon cask #8187.

Bottled at cask strength, exclusively for La Maison du Whisky, France.

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.

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'.

One of only 282 bottles.