Karuizawa 38 Year Old Pearl Geisha | Cask #4348 | 62.1% | 70cl | 172 Bottles | Japanese Single Malt

Karuizawa 38 Year Old Pearl Geisha | Cask #4348 | 62.1% | 70cl | 172 Bottles | Japanese Single Malt

Among the rarest and most extraordinary Japanese whiskies in existence. The Karuizawa 38 Year Old Pearl Geisha is currently the oldest whisky in the prestigious Geisha series — bottled by Elixir Distillers from a single sherry cask (cask #4348) and filled into just 172 bottles at a commanding 62.1% ABV. This is one half of the exquisite Pearl Geisha duo, a release that simultaneously honours the legendary closed Karuizawa distillery and the cultural majesty of its Alpine surroundings. With Karuizawa ceasing production in 2000 and the distillery subsequently demolished, every bottle from this celebrated distillery is not merely rare — it is irreplaceable.

Key Features

• Distillery: Karuizawa (closed 2000 — demolished)
• Bottler: Elixir Distillers
• Country: Japan
• Age: 38 Years Old
• Cask: Sherry Cask #4348
• ABV: 62.1% (Natural Cask Strength)
• Volume: 70cl
• Bottles Produced: Only 172
• Series: The Geisha Series — Pearl Geisha (oldest in the series)
• Label Design: By Raj Chavda, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Tasting Notes

• Character: Dried fruit, dark chocolate, cinnamon, sultana, oak, and black pepper
• Body: Full and commanding at natural cask strength — rich, dense, and deeply complex
• Style: Rich and warming with dried fruit intensity, the unmistakable depth of aged sherry oak, and the refined elegance unique to Karuizawa

About Karuizawa Distillery & The Geisha Series

Built in 1955 at the foot of Mount Asama — one of Japan's most active volcanoes — in the resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano, the Karuizawa distillery was one of the most unique and cherished whisky producers Japan ever had. Producing small quantities of intensely sherried single malt using 100% Golden Promise barley, the distillery closed in 2000 and was subsequently demolished, making every remaining cask a finite and irreplaceable artefact. In the years since, Karuizawa has become one of the most sought-after and auction-dominant whiskies in the world, with bottles regularly achieving five and six-figure sums at international auction. The Geisha series, created by Elixir Distillers, pays homage to the distillery's extraordinary legacy through some of the finest and most aged casks ever drawn from its warehouses. The label art for each Pearl Geisha bottle was designed by Raj Chavda — creative director at The Whisky Exchange and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Perfect For

• Serious collectors of closed Japanese distillery expressions — the pinnacle of the category
• Investors seeking documented, ultra-rare single cask Japanese whisky at the apex of the market
• Those seeking the definitive Karuizawa bottle for a world-class collection
• An acquisition of historic significance for the most discerning whisky buyer

Delivery & Authenticity

Every bottle sold by Whiskys.co.uk is 100% authentic and sourced through verified, trusted channels. We ship across the UK and internationally with fully insured, specialist packaging for high-value bottles. All orders are handled with the utmost care by our family team in Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire.

Enquire about this bottle today — with only 172 bottles ever produced from cask #4348, and Karuizawa distillery gone forever, this is one of the most significant and irreplaceable Japanese whiskies available anywhere in the world. Contact us directly for full provenance documentation and shipping arrangements.