Karuizawa Sunset Across the Ryogoku Bridge 1999

An evocative and highly collectible expression, the 1999 Karuizawa Sunset Across the Ryogoku Bridge is a single cask release that pays homage to one of the most iconic woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige. Distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2017, this sherry-matured whisky hails from the twilight years of the legendary Karuizawa Distillery, which ceased production in 2000. With only a limited number of bottles drawn from its solitary cask, this expression captures the soul of a vanishing era in Japanese whisky craftsmanship.

The label features the famed ukiyo-e scene of dusk settling over the Ryogoku Bridge in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), evoking a mood of quiet reflection and transience. Like the print, the whisky is a study in contrast—between light and shadow, power and delicacy, tradition and time’s passage.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A rich opening of stewed prunes, blackcurrants, and lacquered wood, laced with sandalwood, old libraries, and smouldering incense. Subtle undercurrents of hoisin and red dates emerge with patience.

Palate: Deeply textured and contemplative. Concentrated notes of fig jam, balsamic reduction, and tamarind paste unfold alongside chestnut, tobacco leaf, and dark berry compote. The structure is brooding yet elegant, with umami-laced spice and a hint of forest floor.

Finish: Profoundly long and layered. Fades through leather-bound tannins, cracked pepper, and lingering waves of sherry richness, leaving a final impression of smoked tea and aged mahogany.

1999 Karuizawa Sunset Across the Ryogoku Bridge is not simply a whisky—it is a moment of lost Japan, suspended in liquid form. A rare harmony between historic artistry and cask-driven complexity, destined for the connoisseur and cultural collector alike.