One of the rarest Japanese whiskeys ever up for auction on Catawiki: 41 existing bottles. Estimated price between 300,000 and 375,000 euros
Some liquid treasures manage to defy time, maintaining taste and elegance decades later. The stage, in this case, is that of unmissable opportunities. Catawiki, an absolute point of reference for niche collecting, turns the spotlight on one of the highest and most sought-after peaks of Japanese spirits: a legendary single malt Karuizawa 1960aged for 52 years.
With an estimate that varies between 300,000 and 375,000 eurosthis very rare bottle is preparing to rewrite the history of the platform: if the auctioneer’s gavel confirms expectations, it will be the new absolute record for the category spirits on the marketplace.
The peculiarities of whisky Karuizawa 1960
A true «unicorn» of the whiskey world, this 52 year old Karuizawa 1960 is widely considered one of the best and most important Japanese whiskeys ever released in history. Distilled on February 1, 1960 and aged for over half a century, it was bottled on January 1, 2013, making it the oldest single malt Japanese.
The Karuizawa 1960 52 Year Limited Edition will be available for auction on Catawiki from May 26th to June 7th. Links: Karuizawa 1960 52 years old Sherry Hogshead no. 5627 – One of 41 – b. 2013 – 700ml – Catawiki
Taken from barrel no. 5627 after 52 years of maturation, the bottle is one of only 41 ever released and is considered the oldest Karuizawa expression ever made. Each bottle features a unique hand-carved Japanese ornament, making it a rare expression of both Japanese whiskey and traditional craftsmanship.
Karuizawa has become a legendary name among collectors. The distillery is closed todaymeaning supply is permanently limited, while global demand for rare Japanese whiskeys continues to remain high.
The enthusiasm among collectors
“This is the kind of bottle that collectors can wait years to see,” said Jeroen Koetsier, whiskey expert at Catawiki. «Karuizawa is one of the most legendary names in Japanese whisky: the distillery is closed, the product is limited and this 52-year-old release represents the absolute pinnacle of the category. It is unlikely to be opened. It is a bottle that will almost certainly remain in a high-level collection.”
The sale follows Japan Week by Catawikii, which celebrated collectors’ growing interest in rare Japanese objects, from design and fashion to whisky. To respond to these requests, Catawiki is offering a curated selection of Japanese objects ranging from trading cards, manga, photography, watches, whisky, design and art.
The most expensive bottles of whiskey sold so far
On Catawiki, these were the most expensive bottles of whiskey sold so far, waiting for the legendary Karuizawa 1960:
● Macallan 1940 81-Year-Old The Reachoriginal bottling, bottled in 2022, 700 ml – sold for 125,000 euros
● Macallan 60 years The Red Collectionoriginal bottling, 700 ml – sold for 120,000 euros
● Macallan 1949 50 Years Millenniumoriginal bottling, bottled in 1999, 700 ml – sold for 71,000 euros
