More than 24 years since the closure, Karuizawa Whisky has returned, and is now selling a limited number of casks through dekantā
Founded in 1955 at the foothills of Mount Asama, 850 metres above sea level, what was known as the smallest whisky producer in Japan had also built a global reputation for quality liquid gold. This fame continued even as the distillery mothballed in 2000 and went silent, with it becoming one of the most sought-after and expensive whiskies on the market. In 2020, a bottle of Karuizawa 52 Year Old sold for £363,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in London, making it the most valuable bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold at the time.
More than 24 years since the closure, Karuizawa Whisky has returned, along with members of the original team. Led by master distiller Yoshiyuki Nakazato, the most trusted apprentice and successor of the late Osami Uchibori, the new distillery sits in the town of Karuizawa, where it’s known for its stunning year-round vistas.
The new distillery can be found at the base of Mount Asama, just seven kilometres from the original site. Staying true to tradition, the team is working to recreate the same profile of spirit, with the same water source, the same setup (replicas of the original stills are built, complete with idiosyncrasies) and the finest sherry casks one would expect from Karuizawa. The capacity of the new distillery will also be even lower than before, at around 110,000 litres a year.
A limited number of single malt sherry casks from Karuizawa are currently offered through dekantā, the world’s leading online retailer of fine and rare Japanese whisky. Casks purchases will come with sampling, visits to the distillery, and the opportunity to create one’s own independent bottling, once the 10-year ageing minimum is met. Limited-edition bottle releases will also be available via dekantā, along with other releases from before.
Featured photo by Konrad Borkowski
