November 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. 

This is bottle number 26 of 300 bottles.

Karuizawa 29 Year Old Sherry Cask / Murasaki 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.

One of two highly sought after 'Purple Geisha' released in 2018 by Elixir distillers. This particular single cask has been matured for over 29 years in a single sherry cask.

Bottle number 14 of only 60.

Karuizawa 1978 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8383 / Wealth Solutions

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.

Titled Koishikawa-Kōrakuen, this was named after am 17th century garden in the Tokyo. Work on the garden was begun by Mito Yorifusa in 1629 and was completed by his son Mito Mitsukuni. The garden was cretaed on the advice of Chinese scholar Zhu Shun Shui, and incorporates elements of Japanese and Chinese culture.

The bottle, produced by Wealth Solutions features a depiction of the garden gilded on it.

This is one of just 24 bottles.

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8283 / Moon Above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay

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 1980 and bottled in 2015 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single bourbon cask #8283, which yielded only 401 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is stunning bottling presents  Moon above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay, part of theTsukioka Honen's \" One Hundered Aspects of the Moon series on the box and label art

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 35 Year Old Bourbon Cask #8518 / Emerald 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.

This is another sought after single cask release from Elixir Distillers, the bottling arm of London's The Whisky Exchange. Here's what they had to say:

\"The distinctive emerald labels combine beautiful Japanese art forms with complex hot foil and intricate embossing embellishments, giving the bottles a sculptured finish. They were designed by The Whisky Exchange’s creative director Raj Chavda, who is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Art.\"

Number 3 of only 265 bottles drawn from single Bourbon cask #8518. Released in February 2018.​

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #171 / Eight Headed Dragon

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 1981 and bottled in 2016 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single sherry cask #171, which yielded only 530 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is one of several 35 year old releases depicting Japanese mythology on their labels. The Eight Headed Dragon on this label is borrowed form the cover of a popular series of stories published by Hasegawa Takejiro in the 18th century. The dragon is named Yamata no Orochi.

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 31 Year Old Sherry Cask #3667 / 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.

This is one of two highly sought after 'Golden Geisha' releases, which were available to purchase by winners of a ballot hosted by The Whisky Exchange.

Aged for 31 years in sherry cask #3667 this bottle is number 209 of 225. 

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1981Single Cask 35 Year Old #7427 / Snow Scene

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 1981 and bottled after 35 years in the cask.

Cask number #7427 yielded only 208 bottles.

Presented in a striking blue box which depicts The Tale of Genji in Snow Scenes by Edo era Ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #164 / The Great Battle of Yashima

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 new impressive bottling, bottled last year 2016.  Distilled in 1981 and matured exclusively in sherry butt #164.

The box represents half of a scene from The Great Battle of Yashima.

Karuizawa 1972 Single Cask #7038

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 1972 and bottled on 4th October 2011.

Produced from single cask #7038 and bottled at cask strength.

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

Karuizawa 1982 Single Cask #8497 / TWE Exclusive

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 1982 and bottled in 2012 exclusively for The Whisky Exchange.

Produced from single first fill bourbon cask #8497.

Karuizawa 1984 Noh Single Cask 30 Year Old #2030 / Isetan Exclusive​

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 series features different masks used in Noh, one of Japan's traditional performing arts. This image features the mask of the Noh character, Ishio-jō, a reserved and introspective old man of quiet dignity.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1984 and bottled in 2015 after 30 years of maturation.

Produced from single sherry cask #2030, which yielded only 522 bottles.

This release was an exclusive for the Japanese department store chain, Isetan.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #4021 / Carpe Koi Series for TWE

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 1984 and bottled in 2012.

Produced from single first fill sherry cask #4021.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1982 Noh Single Cask 29 Year Old #8529 / TWE ​

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 series features different masks used in Noh, one of Japan's traditional performing arts. This image features the mask of the Noh character, Shikami, a violently malicious spirit.

This limited release was distilled in 1982 and bottled in 2012 after 29 years of maturation.

Produced from single bourbon cask #8529, which yielded only 411 bottles.

This release was an exclusive for The Whisky Exchange.

Karuizawa 1964 Wealth Solutions 48 Year Old Miniature

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 September 1964 and bottled December 2012

Produced from single cask #3603

Bottled at cask strength for Wealth Solutions, Poland

Includes Booklet

Karuizawa 1991 SMWS 22 Year Old 132.2​

Otherwise known as 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 22 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 335 bottles.

Karuizawa Cask Strength 1st-4th Release 4 x 70cl

This cask strength series of Karuizawa was exclusively released to the Taiwanese market. Included here are all four releases.

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

This lot has a 4 bottle shipping fee.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 29 Year Old #7802 / Norway and Sweden Exclusive

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 on 29th November 1984 and bottled on 13th October 2014 as a 29 year old.

Produced from a single Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butt, cask #7802, which yielded just 577 bottles. 

This release was an exclusive to Norway and Sweden.

Karuizawa Noh 27 Year Old Multi-Vintages #1 / Kamiasobi - Matsukaze

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

This series features different masks used in Noh, one of Japan's traditional performing arts. This image features the mask of the Noh character, Matsukaze, a female ghost who is the central character in a popular Noh play of her name.

This limited multi-vintage release was blended from whiskies distilled in 1981,1982, 1983 & 1984 and bottled in October 2011.

Produced from four selected sherry butts and bourbon casks: #6405, #4973, #8184 and #6437.

This release was selected by La Maison Du Whisky.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 2000 15 Year Old Noh Cask Single Cask #2326

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings that we list in our auctions, this label is fantastic! 

This is a single cask distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2015.

Single cask #2326 was a sherry cask that yielded 495 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cocktail Series #2565 / Tokyo Bar Show 2012​

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 selected from spirit distilled in 1999 & 2000, then \"married\" in single cask #2565.

This release was an exclusive bottling for the Tokyo International Bar Show 2012.

Bottled at cask strength.

Very Old Fitzgerald 1945 Bonded 8 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

An incredible old example of Very Old Fitzgerald, the 8 year old version of the brand. This was distilled in 1945, and was likely some of the first spirit to run from the still after operations resumed following the second world war.

Distilled and bottled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle.

These bottled in bond Old Fitzgerald from the Van Winkle era at Stitzel-Weller are incredibly sought after.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #512 / Katsushika 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 2000 and bottled in 2017.

Produced from single sherry cask #512, which yielded only 447 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is part of a series of five bottlings, each displaying an Edo era artwork on it's label from the Dye in the Spring of Dawn series by the Katsushika Circle artist, Yashima Gakutei. Each of the prints is a Ukiyo-e style pattern, and this particular bottle features Plum Blossom. 

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #2332 / Geisha Label

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%. 

One of 312 bottles. 

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

Karuizawa 2000 Geisha Single Cask #2339

A Geisha labelled single cask Karuizawa, the legendary and much-missed Japanese distillery at the foot fo Mount Asama.

Distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2015 after maturation in a sherry cask.

One of 225 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #671 / Katsushika 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 1999 and bottled in 2016.

Produced from single sherry cask #671, which yielded only 394 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is part of a series of five bottlings, each displaying an Edo era artwork on it's label from the Dye in the Spring of Dawn series by the Katsushika Circle artist, Yashima Gakutei. Each of the prints is a Ukiyo-e style pattern, and this particular bottle features Cherry Blossom. 

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #895 / 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 1999 and bottled in 2016.

Produced from single sherry cask #895, which yielded only 320 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1996 SMWS 17 Year Old 132.4

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 17 year old bottling was distilled 8th July 1996

Produced from a single cask which yielded only 346 bottles.

\"Rich, brooding and suggestive\"

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #125 / Geisha Label​

A Geisha labeled single cask Karuizawa, distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2016 after maturation is a sherry cask.

One of 507 bottles.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #2577 / Katsushika 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 2000 and bottled in 2017.

Produced from single sherry cask #2577, which yielded only 445 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is part of a series of five bottlings, each displaying an Edo era artwork on its label from the Dye in the Spring of Dawn series by the Katsushika Circle artist, Yashima Gakutei. Each of the prints is a Ukiyo-e style pattern, and this particular bottle features Crow Cawing on New Year's Day.