Karuizawa “Sumo 48 Wrestlers” Set – 3 Bottle Selection (Casks #3648, #3680 & #824)

A striking and highly collectible set from the legendary closed Karuizawa Distillery, this “Sumo 48 Wrestlers” selection captures the artistic and cultural depth for which Karuizawa bottlings have become world-renowned. Inspired by traditional Japanese sumo iconography, the Wrestlers series is celebrated not only for its visual identity but also for the exceptional quality of the spirit within - a fusion of heritage, rarity, and powerful sherried style.

This three-bottle set brings together rare single cask expressions distilled in the mid-1990s and bottled in 2017, each matured in sherry casks and showcasing Karuizawa’s signature intensity. These releases originate from some of the final vintages produced before the distillery’s closure, making them part of the last chapter in Karuizawa’s storied history.

Each bottle in the set is drawn from an individual cask and produced in highly limited quantities - typically 177 bottles per cask - emphasizing their rarity and collectibility. Presented in original packaging (with minor condition notes), the set offers a unique opportunity to own a curated fragment of one of Japan’s most iconic whisky series.

Set Composition

• Cask #3648
  Distilled: 1996
  Bottled: 2017
  Cask Type: Sherry Cask
  Strength: 62.5% ABV
  Outturn: 177 bottles
• Cask #3680
  Distilled: 1996
  Bottled: 2017
  Cask Type: Sherry Cask
  Strength: 61.0% ABV
  Outturn: 177 bottles
• Cask #824
  Distilled: 1997
  Bottled: 2017
  Cask Type: Sherry Cask
  Strength: 58.9% ABV
  Outturn: 177 bottles

Size: 3 × 700 ml

About the Distillery

Founded in 1955 at the foothills of Mount Asama, Karuizawa became synonymous with deeply sherried, full-bodied single malts inspired by traditional Scottish methods. Following its closure in 2000, remaining casks were gradually released, quickly achieving cult status among collectors. Today, Karuizawa is regarded as one of the most iconic and collectible names in Japanese whisky, with series such as the “Sumo Wrestlers” standing as both artistic and liquid masterpieces.