Japanese whiskey is not just a drink, it’s an art form. The Japanese have been making whiskey for over a century, and they have mastered the craft of blending and aging their spirits to create complex and refined flavors.
Japanese whiskey is also highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs, who are willing to pay top dollar for rare and limited editions. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 10 of the most expensive Japanese whiskeys ever sold, and what makes them so special.
Karuizawa 1981 Sakura Cask #158 ($23,999)
Karuizawa is one of the most legendary Japanese distilleries, and also one of the most closed. It stopped producing whiskey in 2000, and its remaining stocks have become extremely valuable. This bottle is one of only 45 ever made, and it was aged in a single sherry cask for 31 years. It has a rich and fruity flavor, with notes of cherry blossom, vanilla, and oak.
Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Set (Kings & Clubs) ($31,199)
Ichiro’s Malt is the brand name of the whiskey made by Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of the founder of the Hanyu distillery. Hanyu closed in 2004, but Akuto managed to save 400 casks of its whiskey and started his distillery, Chichibu. He also created a series of 54 bottles, each named after a playing card, using the Hanyu whiskey. The Kings and Clubs set consists of five bottles, each with a different cask finish and a unique character.
Hibiki Limited Edition Sakaida Kakiemon XIV Decanter ($44,999)
Hibiki is one of the most popular and award-winning Japanese blended whiskeys, made by Suntory. This limited edition bottle was released in 1990 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the company. It contains a 35-year-old blend of whiskeys from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries. The bottle itself is a masterpiece of porcelain art, designed by Sakaida Kakiemon XIV, a famous Japanese potter.
Karuizawa Geisha Series Vintage Gold Cask 40-Year-Old Single Cask Malt Whisky ($51,999)
Another rare gem from Karuizawa, this bottle is part of the Geisha series, which features labels with beautiful illustrations of Japanese geishas. This one was distilled in 1971 and aged for 40 years in a single gold sherry cask, giving it a deep amber color and a complex flavor profile. It has notes of dried fruits, chocolate, leather, and spice.
Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu ‘Two of Spades Card’ Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish Single Malt Whisky ($54,999)
This is one of the most coveted bottles in the Ichiro’s Malt Card series, and also one of the rarest. It was distilled in 1991 at the Hanyu distillery, and aged for 23 years in an oloroso sherry butt. It has a dark mahogany color and a rich and intense flavor, with hints of raisins, nuts, coffee, and smoke.
Karuizawa Ruby Geisha 34-Year-Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky ($59,999)
This is another bottle from the Karuizawa Geisha series, and it’s even more exclusive than the previous one. It was distilled in 1981 and aged for 34 years in a single ruby port pipe, which is a large cask that can hold up to 650 liters of liquid. It has a ruby red color and a sweet and fruity flavor, with notes of berries, plums, honey, and oak.
Hibiki 35-Year-Old Blended Whisky ($64,999)
This is the oldest and most expensive Hibiki ever released, and it’s a true masterpiece of blending. It contains whiskeys from Suntory’s three distilleries, aged for at least 35 years in various types of casks, including mizunara, a rare and expensive Japanese oak. It has a smooth and elegant flavor, with hints of citrus, floral, vanilla, and wood.
Karuizawa Samurai 1-10 ($99,999)
This is a set of 10 bottles from Karuizawa, each with a different label featuring a samurai warrior. The bottles were released between 2013 and 2015, and they contain whiskeys distilled between 1964 and 1984, aged for up to 50 years. The set is a showcase of Karuizawa’s diversity and quality, with each bottle offering a different flavor and character.
Karuizawa Vintage Fight Club Set ($220,000)
This is a set of three bottles from Karuizawa, each with a label inspired by the movie Fight Club. The bottles were released in 2016, and they contain whiskeys distilled in 1960, 1963, and 1964, aged 52, 53, and 54 years, respectively. The set is extremely rare, as only 24 sets were ever made. The whiskeys have a dark and powerful flavor, with notes of leather, tobacco, coffee, and smoke.
Yamazaki 55-Year-Old Single Malt ($934,196)
This is the most expensive Japanese whiskey ever sold, and also the oldest. It was released by Suntory in 2020, and it contains a blend of two single malts, one distilled in 1960 and aged in a Mizunara cask, and one distilled in 1964 and aged in a white oak cask. The whiskey has a deep and complex flavor, with notes of sandalwood, ripe fruit, and wood. The bottle is also a work of art, made of crystal and wrapped in traditional Japanese paper and cord.
