Sale according to §25A UStG. No VAT disclosure.

Karuizawa 1982 – Cocktail Series | Bourbon Cask #8444 | LMDW

A rare and captivating expression from Japan’s most legendary lost distillery, this Karuizawa 1982 belongs to the celebrated Cocktail Series, bottled exclusively for La Maison du Whisky. Distilled in 1982 and matured in a single bourbon cask (#8444), this release offers a compelling counterpoint to Karuizawa’s more familiar sherry-driven style, revealing a brighter yet equally intense facet of the distillery’s character.

Bottled at a powerful 58.6% ABV, this whisky exemplifies Karuizawa’s hallmark concentration and depth, shaped by small stills, long fermentations, and a demanding maturation environment at the foot of Mount Asama. The bourbon cask allows the distillate itself to take center stage, while still delivering the weight, structure, and precision for which Karuizawa is revered. The Cocktail Series is prized not only for its striking artistic presentation, but for showcasing distinctive single casks that highlight the breadth and versatility of this vanished distillery.

With Karuizawa dismantled and its remaining stocks dwindling, each surviving bottling has become a tangible fragment of whisky history. This 1982 bourbon cask release stands as both a collector’s treasure and a testament to a distillery whose brief existence reshaped perceptions of Japanese single malt on the world stage.

Specifications

Category: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Bottler: La Maison du Whisky (LMDW)
Bottling Series: Cocktail Series
Vintage: 1982
Cask Type: Bourbon Cask
Cask Number: 8444
Strength: 58.6% ABV
Bottle Size: 700 ml

About the Distillery

Founded in 1955 at the foothills of Mount Asama, Karuizawa Distillery operated until 2000 before being permanently closed and later dismantled. Inspired by the model of Macallan, Karuizawa used small stills, 100% Scottish barley, and heavily seasoned sherry casks to produce dense, powerful whiskies built for long ageing. Its unique microclimate - marked by volcanic soils, mist, and dramatic temperature shifts - contributed to unusually concentrated spirit. Today, Karuizawa is regarded as one of the most legendary lost distilleries in the world, with its remaining bottlings commanding reverence among collectors and connoisseurs alike.