Whisky Karuizawa - Japan's legendary "lost distillery" treasure

The Karuizawa distillery, named after its location at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama, was one of the smallest and most mysterious whisky distilleries in Japan. From 1955 to 2001, it produced exceptional single malts, which only achieved worldwide fame after its closure. Today, Karuizawa whiskies are among the rarest and most expensive in the world, with auction records of over 30,000 euros per bottle.

Karuizawa's whisky was characterised by its intense, almost Scottish-like character. The distillery only used Golden Promise barley from Scotland and matured the spirit in exclusive sherry casks from Spain. The cool mountain climate and high humidity led to slow maturation, which created deep flavours of dark fruits, chocolate, spices and a smoky undertone.

After the closure of the distillery, Karuizawa was initially forgotten until independent bottlers such as Number One Drinks discovered the last barrels and marketed them as single casks. Bottles such as the "Karuizawa 1960" or the "Geisha Series" became cult objects. The extreme rarity and powerful flavour made Karuizawa the epitome of Japanese "lost distillery" whisky.

Although no more new bottlings are being produced, the Karuizawa legend lives on. The distillery stands for a lost era of Japanese whisky craftsmanship - unadulterated, passionate and of unrivalled depth. Each surviving bottle is a precious contemporary document that delights whisky lovers all over the world.