HomeKaruizawa

Karuizawa

About the producer

About the producer

Karuizawa is an increasingly rare Japanese single malt from a permanently closed distillery.

When Karuizawa was built in 1955, the goal was to create a Japanese whisky in the Scottish tradition. In the mid-1950s, that meant Sherry-aged whiskies like The Macallan. As such, the distillery used small stills and Sherry butts that were modified to fit the wine racks that had previously been used on the site when it operated as a winery. They also imported 100% Scottish barley (from 1994, exclusively Golden Promise – a richly flavoured spring barley variety).

The distillery location was unique for a number of reasons: firstly, it was on the side of an active volcano, Mount Asama – which meant the water source was incredibly pure. It was also the highest Japanese distillery – the temperature remained constant at 10˚C and humidity averaged 80%. The misty surroundings encouraged water evaporation before alcohol, resulting in highly concentrated and high-alcohol older whiskies (30 to 40-year-old whiskies at approximately 60% alcohol).

The distillery was mothballed in 2001 when its owners Kirin Holdings – who had invested heavily in its wine enterprise – could no longer maintain whisky production. Karuizawa and its sister distillery, Kawaskai, closed for good 10 years later. In 2012, all the Karuizawa distillery equipment, including the pot still, was sold.

Karuizawa’s cult-like status is largely thanks to Englishman and former Whisky Magazine Editor Marcin Miller’s foresight. Via his company, Number One Drinks, Miller became the sole distributor of Karuizawa, Chichibu and Hanyu in the early 2000s.

Number One Drinks bottled rare gems including a Bourbon-puncheon-matured 1970, and whiskies aged in Japanese wine casks.

Today, single cask releases of Karuizawa are some of the most highly sought-after in the world.

Related Articles

Everything you need to know about Karuizawa

Karuizawa is a phenomenon. Bottlings from the lost Japanese distillery are some of the most collectable in the world – and they’re only becoming more scarce. We chart the small distillery’s mighty history and look at some of Karuizawa’s most highly sought-after whiskies Few names generate as much excitement as Karuizawa in the whisky world. In recent years the lost ...

BY Holly Motion,

ON February 20, 2022

The Japanese Whisky Shortage Grows: Taketsuru Range Discontinued

Japanese whisky shortages have made the headlines once again and these days, it no longer comes as a shock to see another iconic Japanese whisky discontinued. Over the past twenty years a fanatic, ever-growing fan base has risen around Japanese whisky. While the category deserves nothing less, this increased popularity continues to deplete the remaining stock from Japan's largest and most popular producers. ...

BY George Koutsakis,

ON January 16, 2020

In high spirits

The spirits market has seen a decade of astounding performance – but what is happening, and what should you be looking to buy? The spirits market is booming. In October 2019, a bottle of 1926 Macallan FINE+RARE 60-Year-Old became the most expensive bottle (of either wine or spirits) ever sold at auction in the world, going for £1.5 million ...

BY Sophie Thorpe,

ON January 21, 2021

Ian Chang: the humble student

Ian Chang is the man behind Taiwan’s first and most decorated distillery, Kavalan. For 16 years, this young whisky maker defied expectations and redefined world-class single malts. He tells Holly Motion how he learned to be the best Ian Chang is one of the most well-respected and accomplished whisky makers in the modern era. After 16 incredible years at Kavalan, in ...

BY Holly Motion,

ON May 19, 2022

A Seasonal Selection: Festive Gift Ideas

With the festive season fast approaching, F+R is delighted to offer a selection of gifts befitting of collectors and connoisseurs of all things fine, rare and luxurious. From Whisky advent calendars and personalised Cognac bottles, to rare aged Burgundies released ex-domaine in perfect condition. There’s truly something for everyone this Christmas… ** The (Very) Old and Rare Whisky Advent Calendar With ...

ON October 18, 2018

About the producer

Karuizawa is an increasingly rare Japanese single malt from a permanently closed distillery.

When Karuizawa was built in 1955, the goal was to create a Japanese whisky in the Scottish tradition. In the mid-1950s, that meant Sherry-aged whiskies like The Macallan. As such, the distillery used small stills and Sherry butts that were modified to fit the wine racks that had previously been used on the site when it operated as a winery. They also imported 100% Scottish barley (from 1994, exclusively Golden Promise – a richly flavoured spring barley variety).

The distillery location was unique for a number of reasons: firstly, it was on the side of an active volcano, Mount Asama – which meant the water source was incredibly pure. It was also the highest Japanese distillery – the temperature remained constant at 10˚C and humidity averaged 80%. The misty surroundings encouraged water evaporation before alcohol, resulting in highly concentrated and high-alcohol older whiskies (30 to 40-year-old whiskies at approximately 60% alcohol).

The distillery was mothballed in 2001 when its owners Kirin Holdings – who had invested heavily in its wine enterprise – could no longer maintain whisky production. Karuizawa and its sister distillery, Kawaskai, closed for good 10 years later. In 2012, all the Karuizawa distillery equipment, including the pot still, was sold.

Karuizawa’s cult-like status is largely thanks to Englishman and former Whisky Magazine Editor Marcin Miller’s foresight. Via his company, Number One Drinks, Miller became the sole distributor of Karuizawa, Chichibu and Hanyu in the early 2000s.

Number One Drinks bottled rare gems including a Bourbon-puncheon-matured 1970, and whiskies aged in Japanese wine casks.

Today, single cask releases of Karuizawa are some of the most highly sought-after in the world.

View All Current Listings

Sort by:

Availability:

Expand all

Price from

Case format

2010 Karuizawa - Bush Warbler & Rose (Cask# 7608) (62%)

£4,191.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£4,191.00

70cl

-

£4,191.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

2000 Karuizawa 15yo - Noh Sherry Cask# 2326 (62%)

£11,105.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£11,105.00

70cl

-

£11,105.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1995 Karuizawa 15yo (Cask# 5028) (Chateau Mercian Barrel Reserve) (48cl) (67%)

£6,812.00

50cl

50cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£6,812.00

50cl

-

£6,812.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1985 Karuizawa 30yo (Cask# 2364) (Artifices Series, Warren Khong #54) (55.2%)

£19,990.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£19,990.00

70cl

-

£19,990.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1984 Karuizawa, 28 YO, Cocktail Series, 59.3%

£7,974.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£7,974.00

70cl

-

£7,974.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1984 Karuizawa Koi (Sherry Cask) (1984/2012) (Cask #4021) (70cl) (64.5%)

£14,465.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£14,465.00

70cl

-

£14,465.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1984 Karuizawa 28yo (Cocktail Series) (Cask #7975) (59.3%)

£7,986.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£7,986.00

70cl

-

£7,986.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1983 Karuizawa 30yo - First Geisha Collection Bourbon Cask# 8606 (55.8%)

£16,155.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£16,155.00

70cl

-

£16,155.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1982 Karuizawa 30 YO Cocktail Series, 58.6%

£8,721.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£8,721.00

70cl

-

£8,721.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1982 Karuizawa Koi (Bourbon Cask) (1982/2012) (Cask #8497) (70cl) (46%)

£14,465.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£14,465.00

70cl

-

£14,465.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

1982 Karuizawa 30yo (Cocktail Series) ( Cask #8444) (58.6%)

£8,989.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£8,989.00

70cl

-

£8,989.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1981 Karuizawa 35yo (Cask #6412) (Fazzino) (57.7%)

£12,350.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£12,350.00

70cl

-

£12,350.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1981 Karuizawa 32-Year-Old (Cask #4380) (Shinanoya 10th Anniversary) (55.4%)

£20,900.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

£20,900.00

70cl

-

£20,900.00

0 Immediate | 2 Marketplace

1981 Karuizawa 33yo - Koraku-En (54.5%)

£12,115.00

70cl

70cl

-

3 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£12,115.00

70cl

-

£12,115.00

3 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

1980 Karuizawa 33yo 'Pourquoi Faut Il?' (Cask# 4556) (60.3%)

£12,490.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£12,490.00

70cl

-

£12,490.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1978 Karuizawa 35yo - Koishikawa-Korakuen (63%)

£14,135.00

70cl

70cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

£14,135.00

70cl

-

£14,135.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Duty Paid

70cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£14,135.00

70cl

-

£14,135.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

1974 Karuizawa 40yo - 'Aqua of Life' White Cask# 6114(57.4%)

£21,500.00

Bts

Bts

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£21,500.00

Bts

-

£21,500.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1974 Karuizawa 40yo (Cask# 3626) (Golden Geisha) (64.5%)

£34,900.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£34,900.00

70cl

-

£34,900.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1973 Karuizawa 35yo (Martin's Selection) (Cask #6249) (56.0%)

£13,900.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£13,900.00

70cl

-

£13,900.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1969 Karuizawa 50yo Aqua of Life (White) (59.2%)

£45,500.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£45,500.00

70cl

-

£45,500.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1968 Karuizawa 50YO, Aqua of Life, Sherry Cask #6223, 57.9%

£49,000.00

70cl

70cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£49,000.00

70cl

-

£49,000.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

1968 Karuizawa 50yo 'Aqua of Life' (White) Cask#538 (59.2%)

£55,505.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£55,505.00

70cl

-

£55,505.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1968 Karuizawa 42yo (Whisky Live Taipei) (Cask #6955) (61.1%)

£25,900.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£25,900.00

70cl

-

£25,900.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1967 Karuizawa 42yo (LMdW) (Cask #6426) (58.4%)

£34,900.00

70cl

70cl

-

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

£34,900.00

70cl

-

£34,900.00

0 Immediate | 1 Marketplace

1965 Karuizawa Streams of Time, 52YO, 63.1%

£75,200.00

70cl

70cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£75,200.00

70cl

-

£75,200.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

N.V. Karuizawa Koi Collection (3x70cl)

£13,491.00

3x70cl

3x70cl

-

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

£13,491.00

3x70cl

-

£13,491.00

0 Immediate | 3 Marketplace

N.V. Karuizawa 38yo - Pearl Geisha (62.1%)

£21,200.00

70cl

70cl

-

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

£21,200.00

70cl

-

£21,200.00

1 Immediate | 0 Marketplace

Filters by

vintage

Show more >

colour

taste

country

United Kingdom (1)

size

packaging

availability

type

Showing products 27 of 27

In preview mode

We use cookies to provide the best possible experience. See our cookie policy for more information.