Karuizawa 1981 Single Sherry Cask 35 Year Old #171 / Eight Headed Dragon

Karuizawa distillery was established in 1955 in the town of Miyota on the southern slopes of Mount Asama. It began production the following year, producing single malt for the Ocean blends from Daikoku Budoshu. Initially it was difficult for the distillery to obtain malt, but a lift on import restrictions in 1958 meant the distillery was able to experiment with the production of a Speyside-esque product, importing the same golden promise barely used at Macallan, and sherry casks. The subsequent quality of output saw it appearing in Japan as a single malt for the first time in the 1980s. Sadly, the Japanese whisky market was not strong at the time, and Karuizawa was closed in 2001 by owners, Mercian, and eventually dismantled. Its legacy is lives on however, with its still relocated to other distilleries in Japan, but predominantly in the hugely sought-after single cask releases that began to appear in 2007, from independent bottler, Number One Drinks. It is now one of the most prestige single malts on the planet, the reverence for which only grows as the remaining stock continues to thin.

This Karuizawa was distilled in 1981 and matured in single sherry cask #171 for 35 years. Bottled in 2016, this is one of several 35 year old releases depicting Japanese mythology on their labels. The Eight Headed Dragon on this label is Yamata no Orochi, borrowed form the cover of a popular series of stories published by Hasegawa Takejiro in the 18th century. The whisky itself is presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

One of 530 bottles.

Please note due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a two-bottle shipping fee.