Karuizawa

Karuizawa Golden Samurai 35 Year Old, Sherry Cask, 2015, 61.6%

4.7/5Expert Rating

Catalog product detail, market evidence, tasting notes, reviews, and collection actions.

TypeSingle Malt Whisky
MRI
MRI 51
Average Score
Avg 94
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Description

The mountain town of Karuizawa is situated on a high plain at the base of active volcano, Mount Asama, in the heart of Japan's mainland. In 1956, the wine and spirits giant, Daikoku Budoshu, expanded their already established empire there by building a distillery with the onus of producing a single malt to be utilised in the company's blends. They christened it 'Ocean'. 1958 saw a freer importatio ... This 1980-vintage single-cask Karuizawa, bottled in 2015, was released only to attendees of The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015 as a 'Dream Dram'. It is a rare Japanese single malt whisky from the sadly closed Karuizawa distillery. The back label tells a tale of Samurai Warriors stopping in Karuizawa on the Nakasendo trail.

Change+0.0%
LatestSGD 5,398
HighSGD 5,398
LowSGD 5,398
SGD 6,045SGD 5,613SGD 5,182SGD 4,750Price (SGD)Observed dateSep 14Sep 14 - SGD 5,398 - Scotch Whisky Auctions - Sep 14, 2025

Recently Sold

Listed value is based on sold auction prices and inclusive of auction fees (not including tax and shipping).

Scotch Whisky AuctionsAuction Sold Price - Sep 14, 2025SGD 5,397.59
Cask type
Sherry Cask
Bottling
Official Bottling
Peated
N.A
Single cask
Yes
Non-chill filtered
Yes
Cask origin
N.A
Cask no.
N.A
Batch
N.A
PPM
N.A
Barley
Scottish Golden Promise Barley
Fermentation
N.A
Master distiller (bottling)
N.A
Master distiller (distillation)
N.A
Limited edition
Yes
Bottle count
N.A
Has box
Yes
Closure
Cork
Presentation
Bottle with box
Series highlights
Golden Samurai Series, Dream Dram at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015
Historical context
Distilled at a now-closed "lost distillery"
Special release
The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015 Exclusive
Allocation
UK (The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2015)
Nose
Mahogany color. Old cognac at cask strength, raisins, peaches, rancio. Mineral/medicinal development with tiger balm, bandages, antiseptic. With water: Vicks Vaporub, menthol, eucalyptus, lemongrass.
Palate
Starts clean, oranges and flints, then more mineral/medicinal. Mercurochrome and liquid clay. Very mentholy with water, crème de menthe, salted liquorice, menthol snuff. Rich, syrupy, black cherries, ginger spice, hint of Japanese Mizunara-style incense.
Finish
Very long, salty and mentholy, extreme. Overcooked manzanilla. Lingering warmth of dried spices and earthy forest floor. Old oily malt notes, slight pressure on the tongue from high strength.
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