Seeking to purchase: Karuizawa Geisha Series 2000 Distilled #2339 Single Cask Buyback
Regular price $999,999.00(Get a quote now)
Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339: A Single Cask Collection Distilled in the Distillery's Final Year
This cask – distilled in 2000, cask number #2339 – is part of the Karuizawa Geisha series, a single cask collection identified by individual cask numbers. The year 2000 marked Karuizawa's cessation of production, making this spirit a testament to the distillery's "final moments." Collectors consistently show a higher interest in spirits from the final production year compared to other vintages. Coupled with the fact that stock has only decreased since the distillery's dismantling in 2011, the rarity of this particular bottle is evident.
Karuizawa's Cask Maturation Style and Market Position
Karuizawa was a Japanese single malt whisky distillery operated by Mercian in Nagano Prefecture. It was renowned for its long-term maturation in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, producing whiskies with rich, deep flavors, often featuring notes of dried fruit, Christmas pudding, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. After its closure and dismantling, it became one of the brands commanding the highest prices per bottle in global auction markets, with some rare single casks fetching over seven figures in Hong Kong dollars at Bonhams and Sotheby's.
During maturation, high-aged whiskies experience an annual evaporation loss of approximately 2% to 4% due to the "Angel's Share." The longer the aging period, the greater the loss, resulting in fewer bottles. Single Cask bottlings mean that all the liquid in the bottle comes from a single oak barrel. The bottle label specifies the cask number, distillation and bottling years, and the number of bottles yielded. Once that cask is sold out, the exact same liquid will not appear again, so each cask number must be evaluated independently.
Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Cask Specifications
| Item | Cask Details |
| Whisky Type | Japanese Single Malt (Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture) |
| Distillation Year | 2000 (same year as cessation of production) |
| Cask Number | #2339 |
| Cask Type Description | Each cask in the Geisha series has an independent ABV. Whiskies from the same distillation year but different cask numbers can vary greatly, so each cask is valued independently. |
| Art Theme | Ukiyo-e Geisha Bottle Label |
| Distillery Status | Production ceased in 2000, distillery dismantled in 2011, discontinued Japanese whisky |
Background of 2000 Distillation
The spirits distilled in 2000 represent Karuizawa's final chapter, coinciding with the distillery's cessation of production. Each cask carries the historical significance of the "distillery's final moments." For this reason, spirits from the final production year have long commanded greater attention in the secondary market than any other vintage.
Key Factors Affecting the Buyback Price of #2339
The verification of this cask hinges on three pieces of information matching perfectly: the handwritten cask number signature on the bottle neck, the distillation date on the back label, and the embossed year on the bottom of the bottle. The overall evaluation criteria are as follows:
| Evaluation Item | Optimal Condition | Common Deductions |
| Handwritten Cask Number on Neck | Clear signature, consistent with back label. | Faded handwriting, inconsistent with back label. |
| Distillation Date on Back Label | Clear print, correct year. | Blurred, inconsistent with bottle bottom. |
| Embossing on Bottle Bottom | Embossed year clearly legible. | Worn, illegible. |
| Fill Level and Seal | Liquid at bottleneck, cork healthy and unopened. | Low fill level, leakage, previously opened. |
| Ukiyo-e Label and Outer Box | Clear label layers, original box and certificate complete. | Yellowed, torn, missing box or certificate, discounted accordingly. |
If this bottle has already been opened, please also provide photos of the color and body of the whisky after opening for the team's reference, which will help provide a more accurate valuation.
Market Depth and Transaction Benchmarking
For #2339, transactions are most frequent on the Whisky Era online marketplace, but the platform's commission must be deducted to benchmark a reasonable private transaction price. Since each cask in the Geisha series has independent ABV, cask type, and yield, this particular cask will be priced individually based on the transaction range of adjacent cask numbers from the 2000 distillation vintage over the past 6 months, calculated per bottle.
Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Sale Arrangements and Important Notes
- Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Photo Verification First: Take clear photos of the front, back label, fill level, seal, and box/certificate. Simply WhatsApp them to 46135750. An approximate price can usually be determined from these photos.
- Avoid Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Being Valued as a Regular Edition: After receiving the photos, we will first check if the Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 is original and unopened. Then, we will consider the factors buyers typically look at – year, cask number, label theme, and completeness of the box/certificate – to determine the price, avoiding rough estimates based solely on the whisky name.
- Arrange Time for Handover: We can meet at your location in Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories, Outlying Islands, or Macau, or at our store. After authentication, payment will be settled instantly in cash or via FPS.
Practical Questions Regarding the Sale of Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339
Q: Which details most easily affect the price of Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339?
A: Fill level, seal, label wear, outer box condition, and rarity of the edition are most critical. Popular batches will also consider recent market demand.
Q: Will #2339 and other 2000 vintage cask numbers have the same price?
A: No. Even for the same 2000 distillation year, different cask numbers can have very different ABVs and whisky bodies. Therefore, we provide an independent quote for this #2339 cask, referencing recent market transactions of adjacent cask numbers.
Q: The handwritten cask number on the neck is a bit blurry, will this affect the buyback?
A: It will be included in the evaluation, but as long as the back label date and bottle bottom embossing still correspond and confirm authenticity, we can still acquire it based on its condition.
Q: Is your quote based on auction prices?
A: For this cask, we primarily reference transactions of adjacent cask numbers on Whisky Era, deducting platform commissions to convert it to a private transaction price, avoiding direct application of hammer prices including commissions.
If you have a Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 you wish to sell, please take good photos of the bottle, back label, fill level, and box/certificate, and WhatsApp them to 46135750. The more complete the information, the closer the quote will usually be to the actual transaction price.
Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Models for Comparison
Before selling, you can also compare with:Karuizawa Geisha Series 1999 Distillation #2332, Karuizawa Geisha Series 1999 Distillation #895 Single, Karuizawa Geisha Series 1991 Distillation #259 Single.
Geisha series casks are valued individually; confirm your cask number before selling:
Karuizawa Geisha 2000 #2339 Related Buyback Page
To understand more about the market for Karuizawa single casks, please visit the Japanese Whisky Buyback Overview.
