TL;DR
The closed Karuizawa distillery is restarting in a new $20M facility. Master blender Ian Chang will produce only 250 sherry barrels yearly, aged at least 10 years. Original bottles sell for hundreds of thousands. New whisky will be sold via exclusive barrel agreements to collectors.
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.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy is Karuizawa whisky so rare and expensive?
The original Karuizawa distillery closed in 2000, making its existing bottles extremely limited. Vintage bottles, like from 1960, have sold for over $600,000 at auction due to high demand and dwindling supply.Who is leading the rebirth of Karuizawa whisky?
Master blender Ian Chang, known for his work with Kavalan Taiwanese whisky, is defining the revival at the new $20 million facility.How will the new Karuizawa whisky be produced and sold?
Production will use water from Mount Asama and Forsyths stills. Only 250 sherry barrels will be filled yearly, aged at least 10 years, and sold primarily through exclusive whole-barrel agreements with collectors via Dekantā.When will the new Karuizawa whisky be available?
The first new spirit is being produced now, but it will need to age at least 10 years before bottling. Barrel sales for 2022 are closed, with 2023 allocations coming soon.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy is Karuizawa whisky so rare and expensive?
The original distillery closed in 2000, making existing bottles extremely limited. High demand and dwindling supply have driven vintage bottles to sell for over $600,000 at auction.Who is leading the rebirth of Karuizawa whisky?
Master blender Ian Chang, known for his work with Kavalan Taiwanese whisky, is defining the revival at the new $20 million facility in Nagano.How will the new Karuizawa whisky be produced and sold?
Production uses water from Mount Asama and Forsyths stills. Only 250 sherry barrels are filled yearly, aged at least 10 years, and sold via exclusive whole-barrel agreements with collectors through Dekantā.When will the new Karuizawa whisky be available?
The first new spirit is being produced now but must age at least 10 years. Barrel sales for 2022 are closed, with 2023 allocations coming soon.
