Starting this Friday, Japanese whisky enthusiasts are in for a visual and delectable treat: The rare whisky retailer dekantā is offering up 40 sets of Japanese single malt from the legendary Karuizawa distillery in a striking new bottling called The Kurage Collection.
Why get excited? Besides being a tiny producer which stopped production in 2000 (upping its collectible value), Karuizawa was a premium brand and their whisky is considered an excellent investment that — like any good spirit — gets better with age. And there’s really not much left.
According to the retailer, these two-bottle sets of 1999-2000 vintage ($13,500 per set) were designed to showcase one of Japan’s legendary sea creatures, a jellyfish called the Japanese Sea Nettle. “We feel that Japanese Sea Nettles capture the true essence of Japanese people and our culture, while also having parallels with the legendary Karuizawa liquid — they are beautiful and elegant in appearance but strong, powerful and determined underneath,” said dekantā founder and director, Makiyo Masa.
Various European oak sherry casks and maturities were selected and blended to showcase the Karuizawa expressions. “The casks have subtly influenced the color of the liquid, turning it to a gentle mahogany, while also imparting an incredible array of notes onto the spirit. It’s fruity, spicy, and incredibly smooth on the palate,” said Liam Hiller, head of content for dekantā.
The sets go on sale tonight at 7 p.m. EST; sets will arrive in March.
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