Karuizawa 40 Years Old Cask #6114

Karuizawa distillery operated in Nagano Prefecture from 1956 until 2000 and was demolished in 2016. Its use of small pot stills, imported Golden Promise barley and a near-total commitment to Oloroso sherry maturation under the Mercian group produced single malt of great richness and longevity. This is cask number 6114, a 40 Years Old single cask bottled in 2014 for the Taiwan market in a 750ml format.

Four decades in an Oloroso sherry butt produces a spirit of great depth and concentration. The sherry wood contribution is complete and fully integrated, with antique dark fruit, old leather, dried spice and a faint floral thread characteristic of very long-aged Karuizawa. At 57.4% cask strength the spirit retains vitality despite its age. Cask 6114 at 40 years old represents the upper reaches of what the Nagano distillery achieved in its short production life from 1956 to 2000.