Karuizawa
軽井沢蒸溜所
Chubu (Nagano), Japan·est. 1955·demolished·Mercian Corporation
Mt. Asama highlandDense, sherried, tropical-fruited cult maltMercian (closed)
98
prestige index
Prestige
98/100
Tracked expressions
26
Avg retail
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Highest auction
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The Story
Founded in 1955 at the foot of Mt. Asama, Karuizawa used only Golden Promise barley and small direct-fired stills before closure in 2000 and demolition in 2016 — its remaining sherry-cask stock now defines the top tier of the Japanese whisky auction market.
Production
Still heating
direct fire
Water
Mt. Asama volcanic spring
Climate
Cool highland, volcanic
Maturation
Long maturation in first-fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry butts in cool highland warehouses.
Tracked expressions26 bottles · sorted by age
Expression
Status
Fair retail
12-mo
Karuizawa 17 Year Old17 Year Old
Discontinued 2000
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Karuizawa 15 Year Old15 Year Old
Discontinued 2000
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Karuizawa 12 Year Old12 Year Old
Discontinued 2000
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