Karuizawa Geisha 1981 35YO The Splendid Age Collection includes four bottles of rare spirits. Karuizawa is the gold standard for rare Japanese whisky. The distillery closed its doors in 2011, although it had not been producing whisky for over a decade.

This unique Splendid Age Geisha Collection contains of four 35YO bottles:

Izumi Shikibu, distilled in 1981, bottled in 2017, Bourbon Cask #8223 ABV:59.9%, 257 bottles realised

Cherry Blossoms at Night in the New Yoshiwara, distilled in 1981, bottled in 2017 Sherry Cask #8287, ABV: 56.2%, 195 bottles realised

Iwahashi, distilled in 1981, bottled in 2016 Sherry Cask #3515 ABV: 58.0%, 160 bottles realised

Karakoto, distilled in 1981, bottled in 2016 Sherry Cask #7413 ABV: 56.6%, 249 bottles realised

Type: Japanese whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Age: 35 years
Bottling series: Geisha The Splendid Age
Size: 4 x 700 ml
Packaging: Heavy glass bottle, wooden box.
Read more about Karuizawa Geisha

The Splendid Age Collection

In 2011, the British company Number One Drinks purchased all remaining stocks from the Karuizawa distillery, causing the value of Karuizawa whisky to rise exponentially. Our shop offers numerous Karuizawa whiskies for collecting, gifting, and enjoying, including popular editions like the Karuizawa Geisha bottles.

Izumi Shikibu – Geisha. Splendid Age

Type: Japanese whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Distilled: 1981
Bottled: 2017
Age: 35 years
Cask type: Bourbon Cask
Cask number: 8223
Strength: 59,9%
Bottling serie: Geisha The Splendid Age
Size: 700ml
Number of bottles produced: 257
Label: Izumi Shikibu
Single bourbon cask and cask strength

Cherry Blossoms at Night in the New Yoshiwara – Geisha The Splendid Age

Type: Japanese whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Distilled: 1981
Bottled: 2017
Age: 35 years
Cask type: Sherry Cask
Cask number: 8287
Strength: 56,2%
Bottling serie: Geisha The Splendid Age
Size: 700ml
Number of bottles produced: 195
Label: Cherry Blossoms at Night in the New Yoshiwara
Single sherry cask and cask strength

Iwahashi – Geisha. Splendid Age

Type: Japanese whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Distilled: 1981
Bottled: 2016
Age: 35 years
Cask type: Sherry Cask
Cask number: 3515
Strength: 58%
Bottling serie: Geisha The Splendid Age
Size: 700ml
Number of bottles produced: 160
Label: Iwahashi
Single sherry cask and cask strength

Karakoto – Geisha. Splendid Age

Type: Japanese whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Distilled: 1981
Bottled: 2016
Age: 35 years
Cask type: Sherry Cask
Cask number: 7413
Strength: 56,6%
Bottling serie: Geisha The Splendid Age
Size: 700ml
Number of bottles produced: 249
Label: Karakoto
Single sherry cask and cask strength

Karuizawa distillery

The distillery was established in 1955 by Daikoku-budoshu. The owner decided to build the facility in the town of Karuizawa located in the foothills of the active Asama volcano, a popular tourist destination in Japan.

Karuizawa was a small distillery producing alcoholic beverages with the use of traditional methods. In pursuit of the highest quality, Karuizawa was contained in casks previously filled with sherry and imported from Spain. Similar to its equivalent from the home of whisky, Scotland, Karuizawa is aged in sherry casks. However, the flavour of whisky is also influenced by local features that give it its unique character. Spring water drawn from the volcanic hills of Asama, freezing winters and hot summers are all hinted at in the flavour of this beverage and make it truly one of a kind. Karuizawa is very rich and aromatic with a distinct sherry profile.

Karuizawa used to produce whisky on a small-scale and was rather focused on the domestic market. This continued from its establishment in 1955 until 2000 when the production was ceased. Although whisky is no longer produced, there were still some casks left, but every year the number decreases. Currently, there are only 300 Karuizawa casks in the world. Three-quarters of these date back to the 1990s, and there are only 14 casks left from the 1960s.

Unfortunately for Karuizawa, it gained world recognition only after it ceased production. Since 2006, Karuizawa whisky has been reaching whisky lovers from all around the world thanks to the Number One Drinks company. When the world heard about Karuizawa, it immediately fell in love with the beverage produced in the foothills of the Asama mountain.

As Karuizawa is no longer licensed to produce alcoholic beverages and the building of the distillery has a new owner, there will be no new casks on the market. No one knows when the last whisky will be bottled…