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Karuizawa 1976 Single Cask #7605 – 35yo N. Hayashi Square Bottle

Few Karuizawa bottlings carry a story as remarkable as Single Cask #7605. More than an exceptionally rare whisky, it is a fascinating piece of the distillery's history, closely connected to its legendary Master Distiller, Osami Uchibori.

Distilled in 1976 and bottled on 20 December 2011 after 35 years of maturation, this single cask was personally selected by Uchibori-san following a commission from the Japanese singer N. Hayashi, who intended it to become a private bottling. When the project was unexpectedly cancelled at the final stage, every bottle from the cask remained in the hands of the Master Distiller himself.

What makes this release even more extraordinary is its presentation. Rather than being offered commercially, the whisky was filled into elegant square bottles, reserved exclusively for private tastings personally hosted by Osami Uchibori. It was only later that the remaining whisky was rebottled into the now-familiar round Karuizawa bottles, making the original square-bottle edition exceptionally scarce and highly prized among collectors.

As one of the last whiskies selected by the man who shaped Karuizawa's legendary reputation, this bottling represents far more than a rare single malt. It is a direct connection to the distillery's final years and a tribute to the craftsmanship of one of Japan's most respected whisky makers.

Today, the N. Hayashi Square Bottle is regarded as one of the rarest and most historically significant Karuizawa releases, seldom appearing on the market and highly sought after by collectors of Japanese whisky.

Specifications

Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Distillery: Karuizawa
Vintage: 1976
Bottled: 20 December 2011
Age: 35 Years
Cask Number: #7605
Selection: Osami Uchibori
Presentation: Original Square Bottle (Private Tasting Edition)
Size: 700 ml

About the Distillery

Located at the foot of Mount Asama, Karuizawa Distillery became one of Japan's most legendary whisky producers before closing in 2000. Its small production, long maturation, and uncompromising approach to quality earned it an enduring reputation among collectors worldwide.

Master Distiller Osami Uchibori played a pivotal role in shaping the character of Karuizawa's finest releases. Bottlings personally selected by him - particularly those never intended for public sale - are considered among the most desirable and historically important expressions from the distillery.