The Karuizawa Distillery was established in 1955 in the foothills of Mount Asama – an active volcano. The area is a popular mountain resort and the distillery is the highest in Japan at 850m above sea level. Traditional, small-scale, high-quality production is the aim, with wooden wash backs, small stills, and sherry casks from Spain, all contributing to the process. The environment is also ideal for whisky production, with low temperatures and high humidity. 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 particular whisky from Karuizawa was distilled in 1980, then matured in a single Sherry Butt Cask #8317 for 35years before being bottled in 2015. It is presented in an original box with only 89bottles ever released. One of the three bottles which make up the iconic 1980/1981/1982 Samurai Set. If you’d like to know the taste of a rare whisky from the legendary distillery, then this is your bottle!