Wanted: Karuizawa Geisha Series 1982 Distilled #2748 Single Cask

Karuizawa Geisha 1982 #2748: Individual Cask Assessment Guidelines

This cask – distilled in 1982, cask number #2748 – is an individually numbered single cask from the Karuizawa Geisha series.

Karuizawa Brand and Market Background

Karuizawa is renowned for its long maturation in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, producing a rich and profound flavor profile with layers of dried fruit, Christmas pudding, dark chocolate, and cinnamon.

Karuizawa is currently one of the brands with the highest single bottle transaction prices in the global whisky auction market. Some rare single casks have fetched over seven-figure HKD prices at Bonhams and Sotheby's.

During the maturation of older vintages (1982 and older), approximately 2-4% of the liquid evaporates annually due to the "Angel's Share." This means that the final bottled liquid is only a fraction of what was originally put into the cask – the older the vintage, the greater the loss, and the higher the rarity.

A distillation year of 1982 means the liquid has undergone decades of maturation in the cask. Original spirits from this era were not considered rarities at the time, but with the brand's rising value and dwindling supply, they have now become a core target in the collection market.

Single Cask bottling means that every bottle of liquid comes from the same oak cask. The bottle typically indicates the cask number, distillation year, bottling year, and yield. The rarity of a single cask lies in the fact that once the cask is sold out, the exact same liquid will no longer exist.

The market pricing logic for limited editions differs from that of regular editions: in addition to the quality of the liquid, packaging design, issue quantity, and commemorative significance are all factored into the valuation. The completeness of accessories (original box, certificate, numbered card, etc.) particularly impacts the final transaction price.

Cask Specifications

1982 Distillation Year Background

Original spirits distilled in 1980 / 1981 / 1982 represent Karuizawa Distillery's last production peak. The flavor structure of these casks has an independent evaluation system in the secondary market.

#2748 Identification Key Points

The cork printing, lead seal color, and bottle glass mold number (if any) of this cask are supplementary indicators for single cask identification.

The deep red amber color of a sherry cask body after 30 years of aging is one of the key identifying features of this cask. It can be compared with other cask numbers from the same year for color matching.

Expected Cask Flavor Profile

After early 1980s original spirits age for over 30 years, the tannin structure and body viscosity of sherry casks become significant — however, the actual performance should be based on the bottle inscription and cask type description. If this bottle has already been opened, please also provide the color and body thickness after opening to the appraisal team for reference, which will result in a more accurate market valuation.

Market Depth and Transaction Benchmarking

The auction popularity of the Geisha series has been steadily increasing since 2018, with transaction ranges climbing annually. This is why the valuation of single cask Geisha series is continuously updated.

Each Karuizawa Geisha series cask has independent ABV, cask type, and yield. Valuation is assessed bottle by bottle based on the cask number; there is no "uniform vintage market price" concept. This cask will be benchmarked against recent transaction ranges of adjacent cask numbers from the 1982 distillation year within the last 6 months to calculate a reasonable private transaction price.

Selling Process

1. Online Preliminary Estimate: WhatsApp 46135750 with photos of the front, back, fill level, and outer box of the bottle. A reference price will be provided within half an hour.
2. On-site Transaction: If the price is acceptable, arrangements will be made for appraisal at our shop or at your location. Cash/FPS payment will be made on the spot after verification. The entire process is confidential, and appointments can be made for Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, and Macau.

Extended: Karuizawa Full Series Buyback and Valuation, Japanese Whisky Full Series Valuation.