How Karuizawa bottles have traded at Scotch Whisky Auctions, Whisky Auctioneer and Whisky Hammer between May 2011 and October 2026. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, VAT and delivery, except that a Whisky Hammer price includes 20% VAT when a VAT-registered business sells the lot.
- Trading volume
- #26Often tradedof 178 distilleries by lots sold
- Bids per lot
- 34.0Above-average biddingWhisky Auctioneer only, against 20.5 across all distilleries
- Median hammer price
- £1,700.00average £3,065.21, pulled up by the top lots
- Independent bottlings
- 52%Mostly independent bottlingsof lots (6,090), the rest official bottlings (5,575)Median hammer: official £1,600.00, independent £1,850.00
Highest hammer prices| Bottle | Sold | Hammer |
|---|
| Karuizawa 1964 Wealth Solutions 51 Year Old | 2021 | £61,500.00 |
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| Karuizawa 1965 Japonisme Edition | 2023 | £60,000.00 |
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| Karuizawa 1981 Dekantā 35 Year Old #6183 - Cities of Japan | 2022 | £55,500.00 |
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Most often sold| Bottle | Lots | Median |
|---|
| Karuizawa Spirit of Asama | 424 | £380.00 |
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| Karuizawa 1999-2000 Asama | 169 | £700.00 |
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| Karuizawa 1999 & 2000 Spirit Of Asama | 160 | £750.00 |
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Top independent bottlers| Bottler | Lots | Median |
|---|
| Number One Drinks | 2,705 | £2,300.00 |
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| Hua Yang International Exhibition | 2,635 | £1,450.00 |
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| Scotch Malt Whisky Society | 273 | £1,100.00 |
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Past auction results, not a valuation or a guide to future prices. Figures compiled 12 November 2026.
Independent bottlings make up most of the Karuizawa lots here; our study of the workhorse malts and independent bottlers looks at where that happens and whether those bottlings cost more. Before comparing a hammer price with a shop price, add the fees: buying whisky at auction vs retail works through them. Auction medians for many brands have fallen since their 2021 and 2022 peaks, as what 1.6 million auction lots show about whisky prices sets out.
