In 2019, many exciting things were in store for rare Japanese whisky devotees. Karuizawa, one of the most coveted brands in the world of ultra-premium single malt, is ready to restart production. I guess…
A historical distillery in Nagano Prefecture closed in 2000, but its surviving product has since gained cult status among its devotees. As the remaining supply decreases, so do the fervor. A bottle of the 1960 vintage is now going for $638,000 on the market. We have seen expressions sell for over half a million dollars at auction, even though they are somewhat ancient. Seriously. Seven kilometers down the road, in a brand new $20 million facility, a new Karuizawa is about to be born.
Ian Chang, master blender of the Kavalan brand of Taiwanese malts, has played a pivotal role in defining the rebirth. Here he’ll be using a pair of stills from Forsyths, the copper supplier for some of Scotch’s most prestigious brands. The water he uses comes from the slopes of Mount Asama and is approximately chemically equivalent to what would have been used to distill the original Karuizawa. Because of this, every element is in place for this whisky to be highly remarkable. We may find out in a decade, but waiting is a long time.
According to Chang’s plans, only 250 barrels of sherry will be put down each year. Also, he will bottle it after at least 10 years have passed. As part of an exclusive agreement with Dekant, Karuizawa will provide whole barrels to collectors with big pockets. Sales for 2022 are closed, but 2023 will soon be available. Please keep your eyes peeled, and don’t get your hopes up for bargain basement prices; this is not the place to find them.