The world-renowned Karuizawa Distillery closed its doors in 2000 but thanks to a local entrepreneur and a global partnership with dekantā, the legend was reborn in 2022, bringing whisky production back to Karuizawa.

The original Karuizawa distillery was established in 1955 at the foothills of an active volcano, Mount Asama. The location was notable for being the highest distillery in Japan at 850m above sea level. Despite being the country’s smallest whisky producer, Karuizawa had a global reputation for producing first-class malt whiskies.

Karuizawa stopped producing whisky in 2000 and has since been known as a ‘silent’ distillery. As global interest in Japanese whisky has grown in recent years, demand for stock from the closed Karuizawa distillery has increased dramatically, with bottles selling for record prices at auction houses around the world.

In 2020 a bottle of Karuizawa 52-year-old became the most valuable bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold, achieving £363,000 / $435,273 through Sotheby’s in London.

Now, more than 24 years since the initial closure, Karuizawa Whisky is back, along with members of the original distilling team.

The new Karuizawa Whisky Distillery was built by Shigeru Totsuka, who brought on the former Karuizawa Master Distiller, Osami Uchibori, as an advisor—though he has since sadly passed away—and his most trusted apprentice, distiller Yoshiyuki Nakazato, as Master Distiller.

While the old Karuizawa distillery was situated in the neighboring town of Miyota, the new distillery sits in the town of Karuizawa itself, known for its stunning year-round vistas that range from vibrant green and yellow forests in the summer months to gleaming snow covered peaks that attract skiers from around the globe in the winter.

“I strive to produce a liquid that both respects and surpasses the old Karuizawa whisky” - Yoshiyuki Nakazato, Master Distiller at Karuizawa Whisky

The new distillery, located at the base of Mount Asama, brings whisky production back to this iconic location and has sparked something of a whisky resurgence in the Nagano prefecture, home to Karuizawa town.

Just down the road in Iiyama, you'll find The Kiyokawa Distillery—proudly partnered with dekantā—along with Nozawa Onsen Distillery nearby. In the neighboring town of Komoro, there's also Komoro Distillery, led by the former Kavalan Master Distiller, Ian Chang.

While Komoro is owned by (a parent company named) Karuizawa Distillers Ltd., which has sparked some curiosity, it’s important to note that it has no connection to the legendary Karuizawa Whisky Distillery.

Totsuka and his team are more than aware of the rich legacy that comes with the distillery’s name, and they are committed to preserving it at all costs. This dedication is reflected in their decision to use only the finest sherry casks, each with a minimum ageing period of 10 years, ensuring that when Karuizawa single malt bottles finally reach the market, they will meet the highest standards of quality.

In keeping with the tradition of the old distillery, the smallest in Japan, Karuizawa Whisky is only filling a very limited number of casks, with a clear emphasis on quality over quantity.

dekantā, the world’s leading online retailer of fine and rare Japanese whisky, has fostered a close working relationship with the new Karuizawa Whisky Distillery to bring both the joys of their liquid and their epic story to Japanese whisky lovers across the world.

Through an exclusive global partnership, dekantā offers a limited number of single malt sherry casks from the Karuizawa Whisky Distillery. This rare opportunity allows their loyal customers to fulfill the dream of owning a full cask of whisky from a legendary Japanese distillery.

Cask purchases come with opportunities to sample the liquid, visit the distillery, and create one’s very own independent bottling of Karuizawa single malt whisky, once the 10-year minimum ageing requirement has been met.

“It is nothing short of an honour to be entrusted with Karuizawa’s legacy and liquid.” - Makiyo Masa, Founder & CEO, dekantā

What’s more, when the time finally comes, limited edition official bottle releases will be available via dekantā, while working on their very own independent bottlings of this exceptional whisky.
Until then, dekantã will be keeping their customers and cask owners up to date with regular news, content, offers and updates from Karuizawa Whisky.

“ akazato is the fundamental route for a successful Karuizawa whisky style. When I look at what they are doing here, I think they will make some very very good liquid for the new, reborn, Karuizawa.” - Daniel Lam, Global Head of Wine & Whisky, Spink & Son

Karuizawa Whisky casks are available exclusively through www.dekanta.com


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