Karuizawa Cocktail Series Collection – LMDW | Casks #162, #8444, #8597 & #7975
The Karuizawa Cocktail Series brings together four exceptional single cask expressions from one of Japan's most legendary and now-closed whisky distilleries. Selected and released for La Maison du Whisky (LMDW), the collection spans four consecutive vintages - 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 - offering a unique glimpse into the character of Karuizawa across four individual casks.
Each expression represents a different single cask and vintage, bottled at its own natural strength. The collection begins with Cask #162, distilled in 1981 and bottled at 55.8% ABV, followed by Cask #8444 from 1982 at 58.6% ABV, Cask #8597 from 1983 at 62.1% ABV, and Cask #7975 from 1984 at 59.3% ABV.
Together, the four bottlings create a fascinating chronological portrait of mature Karuizawa. Rather than a single expression representing the distillery, the collection allows each cask to stand on its own - highlighting the individuality that makes single-cask Japanese whisky so compelling to collectors.
With four consecutive vintages from 1981 to 1984, four individual casks, and the unmistakable name of Karuizawa behind them, this Cocktail Series collection is a particularly appealing piece for those interested in the history, rarity, and evolution of Japanese whisky.
Specifications
Type: Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Series: Karuizawa Cocktail Series
Distillery: Karuizawa
Bottler: La Maison du Whisky (LMDW)
Style: Single Cask
Vintage: 1981
Cask Number: #162
Strength: 55.8%
Vintage: 1982
Cask Number: #8444
Strength: 58.6%
Vintage: 1983
Cask Number: #8597
Strength: 62.1%
Vintage: 1984
Cask Number: #7975
Strength: 59.3%
About the Distillery
Karuizawa Distillery, located in Nagano Prefecture, became one of the most revered names in Japanese whisky. Established in 1955, the distillery was known for producing small quantities of richly matured single malt, much of it aged in sherry casks.
Karuizawa ceased whisky production in 2000 and was subsequently closed, making its remaining stocks finite and increasingly sought after. Today, bottles from its finest vintages and individual casks are regarded as some of the most collectible Japanese whiskies in the world.
