Single Malt Whisky Merging The Beauty of Japanese Art, Kanji & Whisky

On February 11, 2022 we unveiled an exciting collection of bottles that combined extraordinary single malt whisky with a design that captures the true essence of Japanese culture through stunning depictions of the Japanese Sea Nettle Jellyfish – a sea dweller that is gentle, beautiful and elegant in appearance but strong and powerful underneath. It’s a striking set that is sure to be one of the most collectible and highly sought after Japanese Whisky releases of the year.

Exquisite Single Malt Whisky

The spectacular Kurage Collection is brought to life with two bold Karuizawa single malts that have been carefully crafted from a range of vintages distilled at the turn of the century. Varying cask types and maturities were selected to capture the full gamut of notes that are unique to Karuizawa’s highly distinguished expressions. The flavor profile of each complements one another to offer some of the most complex Karuizawa expressions you’ll find today. Expect rich spice and dark chocolate on the palate joined by umami and succulent forest fruit. Prunes, dates, and plums intensify nearing the finish. It’s a delightful experience through and through and one that you’ll remember forever, should you decide to open them. The expressions come in at 55% and 60.6% respectively, with the stronger of the two bringing slightly more wood spice to the table.

Karuizawa: The Whisky Of Legends

Just like many master artists only appreciated after their death, Karuizawa did not rise to stardom until after the stills were stopped. It can be said that the distillery was ahead of its time in pioneering a spectacular sherried single malt during a time when premium spirits lacked the fervent following they enjoy today. By the time that single malts began rising to prominence, it was too late. Difficult financial conditions forced Karuizawa to close in 2000, when demand for whisky was plummeting in Japan. No one knew then of the huge Japanese whisky boom on the horizon. Karuizawa whisky has been in highest demand during this boom, with its single cask bottlings selling for some of the largest price tags the global whisky world has ever seen. Karuizawa is synonymous with quality, luxury, and rarity.

Inspired Design

Such a superb whisky was deserving of an equally beautiful appearance. You’ve never seen a collection like this before, this set is one of the most visually impressive designs in the world today. The Kurage Series features 2 immaculately designed bottles adorned with the legendary, giant sea creature that is the Japanese Sea Nettle. Sea Nettles are large Japanese Jellyfish that have long, flowing tentacles and a colourful red and gold dome that features stunning sunburst pattern stripes on the exumbrella, from the top to almost the rim of the bell.

While Sea Nettles may look simple and gorgeous, they are actually effective, efficient and formidable foes. They can, and often do, feed constantly, with their many tentacles functioning independently of each other to catch small fish, larvae and plankton.

A Remarkable Story Told In Kanji

The stunning artistic depictions sit atop elegant white kanji that reads vertically, telling the origin story of dekantā, founded by Makiyo Masa in 2015. It’s a subtle touch that adds an element of grace to the already beautiful golden sea nettles, making them look as though they are floating in a sea of Kanji.

The story tells of Makiyo’s deep rooted appreciation for Japanese whisky formed from family ties stretching back to the industry’s origin. She grew up learning first-hand from distillers with unparalleled passion and drive to pursue excellence in all aspects of whisky production. While this expertise was well known locally in Japan, Makiyo was driven to bring Japanese Whisky to the international stage – becoming an influential voice for the industry in all corners of the globe.

The Kurage Collection

Single Malt Celebrating Japanese Art, Culture & Whisky

Translating to “Jellyfish”, the Kurage Collection is an exciting two bottle set combining extraordinary single malt whisky with a beautiful artistic depiction of the Japanese Sea Nettle Jellyfish against a backdrop of Kanji telling a powerful story of Japanese Whisky rising to international prominence. It’s quite simply one of the most collectible whisky collections of all time.

• Distillery: Karuizawa
• Year Distilled: 1999-2000
• Alcohol By Volume: 55.00% (Bottle 1)
• Alcohol By Volume: 60.60% (Bottle 2)
• Size: 70cl (2 bottles)

On Sale Now. Shipping Starts March 15th.