Dubai fine wine and spirits merchant Le Clos has listed for sale a complete set of Karuizawa Geisha Series Japanese whisky – the first time a full set has ever been made available – at a cost of $300,000 (£246,000).
The complete collection is available at a cost of US$300,000 (£246,000)
The 27 bottles which make up the Geisha Series include expressions of Karuizawa whisky that have been aged for 29, 30, 31 and 50 years, and were bottled in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990. This is the first time that these whiskies, produced by the now-closed Karuizawa distillery in Japan, have been retailed as a full set.
Karuizawa distillery was located at Miyota, a town on the slopes of the active volcano Mount Asama in the Nagano Prefecture. Established in 1955, the distillery began production in 1956 and was the smallest in Japan.
Before its closure in 2000, Karuizawa produced world-class malt whisky for around 50 years. It would import a special barley called Golden Promise from Scotland, and aged its whisky in Spanish sherry casks. The whiskies were known for their floral scent and maturity, and were produced in small batches, making them highly sought-after.
Karuizawa’s whiskies are the closest to the Scottish malt style in Japan, according to Le Clos, but with its own character. The water used to make them was filtered through lava and the distillery’s scorching hot summers and extremely cold winters contributed to a unique maturation profile.
Iain Delaney, COO at Le Clos’ parent company MMI, said: “We are proud of our proven track record and expertise in sourcing rare and unique products and bringing these to market. Japanese whisky is currently one of the most coveted products in the luxury drinks market, and the Geisha Series is the pinnacle of Japanese whiskeys. We are truly delighted to bring this collection to our customers”
In December, Le Clos sold a collection of The Macallan Fine and Rare, spanning 1937 – 1990, for a Travel Retail record-breaking US $500,000.
Le Clos has six outlets located within Dubai International Terminal 3 Departures. The flagship store is located at gate A1 in Concourse A, where this collection will be made available, while the original outlet is adjacent to gate B8 on Concourse B.