Karuizawa Samurai 30 years 4 recycling
Regular price $999,999.00(Get a quote now)
Karuizawa Samurai 30YO #4: The 4th bottle in the Samurai series, filling a mid-range spot in the complete 10-bottle collector's set.
The samurai on the label is depicted in a sword-drawing stance as the central motif, with rich red and black colors. Based on the transaction range of the Geisha series from the same era, #4 is positioned in the mid-range at auction.
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 whiskey auction market. Some rare single casks have surpassed seven-figure Hong Kong dollar prices at Bonhams and Sotheby's.
During the maturation process of high-aged whiskies (30 years or older), approximately 2-4% of the liquid evaporates each year due to the "Angel's Share." This means that the final bottled liquid is only a fraction of what was initially put into the cask – the longer the age, the greater the loss, and the higher the rarity.
Single cask bottling means that each bottle of liquid comes from the same oak cask. The bottle typically indicates the cask number, distillation year, bottling year, and the number of bottles produced. The scarcity of single casks lies in the fact that once the cask is sold out, the identical liquid no longer exists.
#4 Specification Positioning
| Item | Characteristics of this Bottle |
| Number | #4 (4th bottle of the complete 10-bottle Samurai series) |
| Age Statement | 30 Years (Single Cask Bottling) |
| Cask Type | Single Sherry Cask Matured |
| Main Label Visual | The samurai on the label is depicted in a sword-drawing stance as the central motif, with rich red and black colors. |
| Distillery Status | Ceased production in 2000, original site demolished in 2011, discontinued Japanese whisky |
Key Authentication Points for #4
The flow of the ukiyo-e lines on #4 is a unique identifier; pay attention to the gold trim on the samurai's sleeves and the kimono patterns. Check the fill level (neck position is ideal), the health of the cork or screw cap, the printing layers of the label, the engraving of the bottle number, and the completeness of the original wooden box and certificate. If any of these are missing, the valuation will be discounted accordingly, but it can still be collected.
Market Depth of the Samurai Series
Karuizawa Distillery ceased operations in 2000, and its original site was completely demolished in 2011, making all its old cask liquids an irreplaceable, discontinued asset in the market. The "Samurai" series is a complete set of 30-year-old single cask bottlings, consisting of 10 bottles in total, each featuring a different samurai-themed ukiyo-e illustration on its label.
The Samurai series has repeatedly set new transaction records at Bonhams Hong Kong, Sotheby's London, and Whisky Auctioneer.
Selling Process
- Photo Valuation: Send clear photos of the bottle to 46135750 via WhatsApp (recommended five angles: front, back, neck, bottom, box). Our team will provide a quote based on recent transaction trends.
- Door-to-door or In-store: After arranging a time, our appraiser will inspect the item on-site and pay immediately in cash or via FPS, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.
More information: Free Door-to-Door Collection Process in Hong Kong and Macau, Instant WhatsApp Quote.
