14 January 2026

    • Karuizawa 35 Years Old 1981

    Single Cask No. 6478

    Winning Bid
    £6,500
    RESERVE MET

    Karuizawa 35 Years Old 1981

    Single Cask No. 6478
    Lot #0890343
    FINISH DATE
    30 April 2021

    The Karuizawa distillery was established in 1955 in the foothills of Mt. Asama, an active volcano. Traditional, small-scale, high-quality productions are the objective of Karizawa. To meet that goal, wooden washbacks, small stills and sherry cask from Spain all contribute to the process of creating a premium whisky. The environment is also ideal for whisky production with low temperatures and high humidity. Karuizawa single malts have won gold medals at IWSC and ISC tasing competitions.  This particular whisky was distilled in 1981 and matured in a single bourbon cask for 35 years, producing a beautiful colour. Bottled in 2017 at full strength and one of 367 bottles. 

    Karuizawa

    The most collectable name in Japanese whisky, began life as a vineyard, beneath Mount Asama, which was an active volcano. Before the then owners, Daikoku-budoshu, decided to enter the world of whisky in 1955. A brave move given the domestic market was still relatively small and whisky was seen as being of Scottish origin. They looked to Scotland and created a modest-sized distillery that brought together the best of whisky. The emphasis was on quality, using the flavoursome Golden Promise barley that is rarely used today, stills that enhanced the distillate and then predominately sherry maturation, thanks to casks sourced from Spain. A lull in whisky demand prompted the distillery to be closed in 2000, if Japanese whisky was booming as it has been in recent times, Karuizawa would still be in existence. Instead, the remaining casks were purchased by Ichiro Akuto and over the years we’ve seen these hugely collectable releases arrive at retail and vanish soon after.

    Lot Features
    • BOTTLER
      Official
    • CASK TYPE
      Bourbon
    • DISTILLERY
      Karuizawa
    • TYPE
      Full Size
    • SIZE
      70 cl
    • STRENGTH
      61.5%
    • BOTTLES PRODUCED
      367
    • CASK NUMBER
      6478
    • CASK TYPE
      Bourbon
    • APPROX. SHIPPING WEIGHT (kg)
      3.5
    Region
    Japan
    Japan

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