HISTORIC JAPANESE WHISKY AUCTION TARGETS NEW RECORDS WITH KARUIZAWA 1960 AND YAMAZAKI 55 YEAR OLD
The world’s most iconic and sought-after Japanese whiskies will take centre stage in an exclusive auction this June, celebrating the very best of Japanese whisky.
Whisky Auctioneer, the world-leading online whisky auction platform, is set to make history with an exclusive Japanese whisky auction running from 12–22 June 2026. The company will aim to set new category records following the exceptional £43,000 result for a 1st Edition Hanyu Card bottling sold via Whisky Auctioneer in March 2026, underlining continued global demand for rare Japanese whisky.
Alongside exceptionally rare lots including Yamazaki 55 Year Old – the world’s oldest Japanese whisky – headlining the sale is the Karuizawa 1960 “The Poet” (Cask #5627), an extraordinary single cask distilled at the now-closed Karuizawa Distillery and bottled in 2013 at 52 years of age. The release has since achieved near-mythical status among collectors.
The bottle is offered with exceptional provenance, having remained under direct custodianship of its original creator, Marcin Miller, who co-founded the independent bottling company Number One Drinks with David Croll in 2006.
Miller is a widely respected figure in the whisky industry, formerly publisher of Whisky Magazine, a Keeper of the Quaich and also co-founder of The Kyoto Distillery, Japan’s first artisan gin distillery. Through Number One Drinks Company, he played a key role in acquiring and releasing remaining stocks from the closed Karuizawa Distillery, helping to establish its global collector status.
Marcin Miller, co-founder of Number One Drinks, commented:
“Karuizawa has been a deeply significant part of my professional life for many years, and ‘The Poet’ represents something truly special within that journey. From the early days of Number One Drinks, there was a real sense that we were engaging with something extraordinary in these remaining casks and beginning to understand just how important they would become to whisky enthusiasts around the world.
“This particular bottling remains one of the most remarkable examples from that era, from the quality of the liquid to the attention to detail in the breathtakingly beautiful design.”
All 41 bottles of the Karuizawa 1960 Cask #5627 are entirely unique; in-place of traditional numbering, each is individually named and distinguished by a hand-selected netsuke, a traditional Japanese miniature carved sculpture, suspended from its neck.
Dave Broom, Award-winning author and Japanese whisky expert, said:
“Amazingly, after the emotional task of transferring the last remaining Karuizawa from the distillery to their temporary home at Chichibu had been completed, a final tranche of casks materialised. These had been ring-fenced as being potential bottlings for the distillery’s visitor centre, but as that was now closed enquiries were made as to whether this mysterious clutch could also be added to the purchase.
“It was only after the deal was agreed that it was discovered how remarkable this package was, containing as it did, cask #5627, a 250l sherry hogshead. Time had reduced its volume to no more than 41 bottles worth of liquid, though the alcohol remained sprightly at 51.8%, a precious reminder of the early days of the distillery.”
The auction as a whole charts the evolution of Japanese whisky, from the foundational influence of pioneers such as Suntory and Nikka, through the enduring allure of closed distilleries including Karuizawa Distillery and Hanyu Distillery, to the category’s dynamic revival and new generation of distillers, notably Chichibu Distillery.
Joe Wilson, Head Curator and Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said:
“We’re excited to bring together some of the most important Japanese whiskies ever offered at auction, reflecting both the depth and continued strength of this category as we continue to see strong global demand for genuinely rare Japanese whisky.
Headlining the auction is the Karuizawa 1960 ‘The Poet’. What makes this opportunity particularly remarkable is the direct line of custodianship through Marcin Miller. It represents exceptional direct provenance for a bottle of this significance and that level of traceability is incredibly rare in today’s market.”
“The Poet” will appear alongside a host of remarkable lots in the auction. Highlights include:
- Yamazaki 55 Year Old; the world’s oldest Japanese whisky.
- Karuizawa 1998 Harland Miller; a unique collaboration featuring a hand-painted label by internationally renowned British artist Harland Miller. All proceeds from this lot, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, will be donated to Migrate Art.
- Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu Card Bottlings; one of the most famous and collectible Japanese whisky series of all time, including rare 1st Edition releases from 2005 such as the Jack of Clubs.
To register for the auction, Kisetsu: The Seasons of Japanese Whisky, click here.
About Whisky Auctioneer
Whisky Auctioneer is the leading global platform for buying and selling whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 by whisky enthusiast Iain McClune, the company has grown into a trusted destination for collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, with offices in Scotland, London and Utrecht.
Whisky Auctioneer’s monthly online auctions feature one of the most extensive selections of rare and collectible spirits available, spanning Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey and world whiskies including iconic American and Japanese releases. The platform is designed to make the secondary market more accessible, connecting buyers and sellers across the globe.
In 2021, Whisky Auctioneer made auction history during the sale of The Perfect Collection, when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old achieved a £1 million hammer price – the first bottle of whisky to reach that figure in an online-only auction.
Whisky Auctioneer Japanese Auction bottle highlights:
Karuizawa 1960 The Poet; The Karuizawa 1960 (Cask #5627) is widely regarded as one of the rarest and most significant Japanese whiskies ever released. Distilled in 1960 and bottled in 2013 at 52 years old, it has achieved near-mythical status among collectors.
Only 41 bottles were produced from a single sherry cask. Each bottle is entirely unique – rather than being numbered, every bottle is named and distinguished by its own hand-selected netsuke (a traditional Japanese miniature carved sculpture).
The presentation extends its story beyond the liquid itself. Designed by Scottish-founded creative agency Contagious, the packaging reflects the connection between Scotch tradition and the distinctive style of Karuizawa Distillery. Labels crafted from handmade washi paper feature on each bottle, one hand-pressed and hot metal branded in Scotland, the other finished with fine art calligraphy in Japan, symbolising the fusion of cultures behind the spirit. The presentation is completed with handcrafted wooden cases inspired by traditional Japanese puzzle boxes, incorporating wood from the original cask.
Tasting notes by Dave Broom can be provided on request.
Karuizawa 1998 Harland Miller; A one-of-a-kind collaboration between fine art and fine whisky. This is a charity lot with funds raised, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, being donated to Migrate Art.
Filled on 23 December 1998, Cask #2347 was privately owned by Marcin Miller, who has donated the only ten bottles ever to be released at natural cask strength (61.8% ABV) to the Migrate Art project. Each bottle features a unique hand-painted artwork by internationally acclaimed artist Harland Miller. Created exclusively for this exceptional series, these one-of-a-kind labels were conceived to raise funds for the pioneering arts charity Migrate Art. Proceeds from the sale of all ten bottles will directly support Migrate Art’s work with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Yamazaki 55 Year Old; The oldest Japanese whisky. Originally released in 2020, it’s a blend of 1960 and 1964 vintage Yamazaki matured in Mizunara and white oak casks. 100 bottles were first released in 2020 exclusive in the Japanese market via a lottery system and a second ‘final’ batch of 100 bottles was released in 2021 to global markets. With just 200 bottles ever produced, it has not appeared at auction at Whisky Auctioneer for over two years.
Ichiro’s Malt Card Series – ‘1st Card bottlings’; Undoubtedly one of the most famous and collectible Japanese whisky series of all time. The full Hanyu Card Series collection boasts a total of 58 releases – 52 playing cards, two jokers, and a second batch of follow up releases for four of the cards: Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and Jack of Clubs.
Released in 2005, four of the bottlings in particular were released in very small quantities, followed up with a second release due to its acclaim. These original ‘1st Card bottlings’ are extremely rare and Whisky Auctioneer will offer examples of these including the Jack of Clubs 1st Edition. The most recent example sold via Whisky Auctioneer in March achieved an exceptional hammer price of £43,000, marking the first time since 2019 that these card bottlings have appeared at auction.
About Karuizawa Distillery:
Karuizawa, one of Japan’s smallest distilleries, is a legendary name in Japanese whisky, having achieved near-mythical status among collectors following its closure in 2000. Established in 1955, the distillery was founded to produce traditional-style whisky using imported Scottish ingredients for its owner, Mercian, primarily serving the domestic Japanese market. Its rare stocks include vintages dating back to 1960, among the oldest in its inventory.
Production ceased in 2000 after Mercian’s acquisition by Kirin, whose strategic focus leaned toward wine rather than whisky. The original distillery was dismantled in 2016. However, the Karuizawa legacy has since been revived, with a new distillery constructed approximately seven miles away in the town of Karuizawa, where production resumed in 2023.
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