TOKYO – Online Japanese spirits retailer dekantā is giving whisky enthusiasts internationally the opportunity to own one of the world’s rarest whiskies, a 35 year old single sherry cask whisky, of which only 180 bottles are available, from the closed Karuizawa distillery. Since the Karuizawa distillery ceased production in 2000, demand for Japanese whisky, and the limited Karuizawa stock, has increased dramatically.

Each of the bottles in the Karuizawa 35 Year Old ‘Shibari’ Series ($14,500; 70cl; 60.6% ABV (Blue, White and Red Editions) 56.5% ABV (Black Edition)) carries a limited edition design inspired by Shibari, a Japanese style of bondage, and is available in blue, white, red and black. There are 45 sets available of each of the four designs, titled ‘Nawa’, ‘Nawashi’, ‘Karada’ and ‘Nawa-Do’. “Like the enjoyment of Japanese whisky, the Japanese art of Shibari engages the senses, and this bottle series is designed to convey the same level of intricate beauty and sensuality as found in this ancient art,” said dekantā Founder and Director Makiyo Masa.

In February 2018, dekantā’s ballot for a series of Karuizawa whiskies, inspired by cities of Japan, attracted over 3,500 entries for just 150 bottles. “The fantastic reaction in response to last year’s Karuizawa Cities of Japan series reinforced our understanding of the huge demand and enthusiasm for new releases from the silent Japanese distillery,” said Makiyo Masa. “I’m thrilled we’re able to give our clients another opportunity to own a true piece of Japanese whisky history, presented with such sensual and iconic Japanese designs.”

Winners of the ballot will be offered the opportunity to purchase a bottle from the Karuizawa ‘Shibari’ 35 Year Old Single Cask Series. Consumers can select their favourite design on the ballot entry, or choose to be entered for the whole set.  The ballot will close at 11.59 GMT on Monday 18 February 2019, when ballot winners will be contacted with details on how to complete their purchase. Any winners who do not exercise their opportunity to purchase their allocated bottle within 48 hours will have their winning ballots redrawn, and new winners will be contacted.

To enter the ballot for the Karuizawa ‘Shibari’ 35 Year Old Single Cask Series, visit https://dekanta.com/karuizawa-shibari-35-year-old/ to express interest in one or more of the limited design editions.

Notes to Editors:

dekantā Founder Makiyo Masa is available for interview. Please RSVP to arrange, Miriam Rune: miriam@dekanta.com / +44 7740 339 628.

dekantā News Room: https://dekanta.com/press/

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About dekantā

dekantā offers the world’s largest online selection of authentic Japanese spirits and, since the opening of its online store in 2015, has delivered to 127 countries across every continent in the world. A family owned and run business, dekantā’s founders have been selling collectibles since 1985 and specialize in rare, collectible, and new release single malt Japanese whisky. dekantā offers worldwide delivery on an extensive range of Japanese single malt whisky, Japanese grain whisky and Japanese blended whisky, in addition to Scottish whisky released for the Japanese market only. More recently, Japanese wine has been introduced through the dekantā Cellar, and spirits from wider Asia through dekantā Oriental.

About Karuizawa

The Karuizawa Distillery was established in 1955 in the foothills of an active volcano Mount Asama. The location was notable for being the highest distillery in Japan at 850m above sea level. Despite being the smallest whisky producer in Japan, Karuizawa had a global reputation for producing first-class malt whiskies. The distillery imported Golden Promise barley from Scotland and aged the majority of its stock in sherry casks. Karuizawa stopped producing whisky in 2000 and has since been known as a ‘silent’ distillery. As global interest in Japanese whisky has grown in recent years, demand for stock from the closed Karuizawa distillery has increased dramatically, along with the price of the remaining bottles. Bottles of Karuizawa have sold for more than £100,000 and the distillery has just overtaken Macallan to become the highest-ranking distillery in terms of the value of its bottles sold at auction (WhiskyStats.net).

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