Karuizawa 2000 Sea Dragon Cask #166

Distilled in 2000 at the now-silent Karuizawa Distillery, nestled at the base of Mount Asama in Japan, this whisky represents a unique chapter in Japanese distilling history. Originally established to create malt for blends, Karuizawa embraced Golden Promise barley and maturation in sherry casks, resulting in a spirit of remarkable character. Bottled in 2013 from cask #166 at a powerful 64.3% ABV, this expression delivers a robust and complex flavour profile – a final testament to a distillery that, despite its quality, was ahead of its time. The ‘Sea Dragon’ bottling captures the essence of Karuizawa’s distinctive style, a spirit sadly lost with the distillery’s demolition in 2016.