Karuizawa 1960 Cask #5627 The Prototype Sold at Auction
Sotheby's Nightcap Auction Features Cask #5627 Prototype and Rare Whiskies
Sotheby's launched its new Nightcap wine and spirits auction festival this month, featuring the live Whisky & Whiskey / Featuring the Wax Top Collection sale held from September 3 to 18, where an exceptionally rare bottle of Karuizawa 1960 Single Cask The Prototype was successfully sold. Regarded as one of the rarest Japanese whiskies ever to appear at auction, it stood as the definitive centerpiece of the entire festival.
This bottle of Karuizawa was distilled on February 1, 1960, from oak cask number Cask #5627. The whisky was personally hand-bottled on December 20, 2012, by Karuizawa's final master blender, Osami Uchibori. Records indicate that prior to any formal commercial release of this vintage, only two bottles were drawn directly from this single cask and bottled by hand, making this lot one of those two historic bottles. The lot is fully preserved with Uchibori's original certificate of authenticity and the original presentation box bearing his handwritten signature.
Extended Reading: Japanese Whisky Guide & Rankings: From the Two Giants to Rising Stars Chichibu and Akkeshi
Notable Highlights and Charitable Auction Proceeds
Beyond the 1960 prototype bottling, several other premier lots achieved impressive results. These included a 1970 Karuizawa from Cask #6017 titled The Last Masterpiece, as well as the benchmark Scotch single malt The Macallan Select Reserve 52 Years Old. In American whiskey, a unique set of Very Olde St Nick Estate Reserve Vintage Collection was hammered down, featuring three bottles from the first and only 1-liter release of Very Olde St Nick 17 Years Old. Proceeds from this charity lot will be donated to The Big Wave Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lifelong housing, day programming, and support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Extended Reading: Complete Macallan Whisky Guide: 12 & 18 Years, Age Hierarchy, Sherry Oak & Double Cask
Nightcap Auction Sets New York Record for Spirits Total
Nick Pegna, Global Head of Wine and Spirits at Sotheby's, stated that the concept behind Nightcap was to seize market momentum and create an engaging platform connecting seasoned collectors and next-generation enthusiasts alike. Through shared experiences, auctions, and a mutual passion for wine and spirits culture, the initiative aims to expand its footprint to various destinations worldwide in the future.
This inaugural Nightcap global auction series spanned four wine auctions and one dedicated spirits session, accompanied by exclusive tastings, dinners, and experiential events. The Whisky & Whiskey session alone presented over 500 bottles of whisky, setting an all-time record total for a spirits auction in New York and attracting the highest number of registered bidders ever seen in a global spirits sale.
📅 Publication Date: 2026-09-23
🔗 Source: The Spirits Business