15 January 2025
NO RESERVE
FINISH DATE
17 December 2024

    • Karuizawa 38 Years Old Platinum Geisha

    Single Cask No.4365

    Winning Bid
    £12,750
    Karuizawa 38 Years Old Platinum Geisha
    Single Cask No.4365
    Lot #1330157

    An exceptional 38-year-old Sherry Cask matured Japanese Single Malt whisky from the closed Karuizawa distillery. This single-cask Karuizawa is among the most coveted releases in the iconic Geisha series. Known for their elegance and rarity, these Geisha bottlings celebrate the craftsmanship of one of Japan’s most legendary distilleries. Karuizawa Distillery, founded in 1955 in the foothills of Mount Asama, an active volcano, is renowned for its unique environment for whisky production. Situated at 850 meters above sea level, it is Japan’s highest distillery, benefiting from low temperatures and high humidity—ideal conditions for maturation. Sadly, production of single malt whisky ceased in 2000, making Karuizawa bottlings a treasure among collectors. Only 137 bottles of this Karuizawa were produced, all drawn from cask number 4365, which was filled with spirit distilled in 1984. The label pays tribute to the Onna-bugeisha, a remarkable group of female Samurai, capturing the strength and grace mirrored in this extraordinary whisky. Originally available through ballot entry at The Whisky Exchange.

    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
      The Whisky Exchange
    • CASK TYPE
      Sherry
    • DISTILLERY
      Karuizawa
    • TYPE
      Full Size
    • SIZE
      70 cl
    • STRENGTH
      59.6%
    Region
    Japan
    Japan

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