11 June 2025

    • Karuizawa Masterpieces In Colour

    1st Batch 1999/2000 Vintages

    Winning Bid
    £1,300
    RESERVE MET
    Karuizawa Masterpieces In Colour
    1st Batch 1999/2000 Vintages
    Lot #1370810
    FINISH DATE
    21 April 2025

    The 1st batch taken from the limited edition, cask strength collection 'The Masterpiece in Eight Colours'. A series of eight different batches from sherry butts, each distilled in 1999/2000 and each with a label in eight different traditional Japanese colours. The calligraphy on each label has been written by renowned Kanji artist Souun Takeda, a cult figure in Japan.

    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 Bottling
    • CASK TYPE
      Sherry Butt
    • DISTILLERY
      Karuizawa
    • TYPE
      Full Size
    • SIZE
      70 cl
    • STRENGTH
      49.3%
    Region
    Japan
    Japan

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