While Japan whisky became popular overseas, whisky produced in Nagano Prefecture was auctioned in the UK and sold for a high price of 1,30 pounds per bottle, or over 5000 million yen in Japan yen.
Sotheby's, a major auction company, held an auction of 17 rare Japan whiskeys in London, the capital of England, on the 100th to commemorate the 271th anniversary of the start of the construction of Japan's first whiskey distillery.
Of these, "Karuizawa 1960" produced by the "Karuizawa Distillery" in Nagano Prefecture was sold at a high price of 1,30 dollars per bottle, or more than 5500 million yen in Japan yen.
Since the distilleries where it was produced have closed, it has become increasingly scarce due to the difficulty of obtaining it, and the taste has been reevaluated worldwide, so there is a tendency to trade at a high price.
The whiskey exhibited this time has been aged for 52 years, and only 2013 bottles were sold in 41.
Japan whisky is highly regarded and popular overseas. Last year, another bottle of Japan whiskey sold at an auction in the United States for $1,60, or about 8900 million yen in Japan yen.
Johnny Fowle, who is in charge of the whiskey department at Sotheby's, said, "Especially for collectors, the dark-colored style that is firmly aged in sherry barrels is very popular."