Shizuoka Prologue K&W Gift Set 55.5% Alc 200ml * 2

The "K" stands for Karuizawa — and the weight of that name is not lost on anyone who knows Japanese whisky. The legendary Karuizawa Distillery, which closed in 2000, produced some of the most coveted and expensive single malts in the world. Its stills were dispersed at auction, and Nakamura secured one — restoring it and setting it back to work for the first time in over a decade.

Prologue K is distilled entirely in this storied still. The barley is a blend of 50% Japanese-grown malt and 50% imported malt, matured for three years in first-fill bourbon barrels and bottled at natural cask strength — 55.5% ABV — without coloring or chill filtration.

Tasting Notes 

Nose: Delicate and precise — the Karuizawa still's character shows immediately in a spirit of uncommon refinement for its age. Fresh vanilla and white flowers open the nose, followed by light Japanese plum, ripe apricot, and a whisper of pine forest after autumn rain. There is a subtle minerality underneath — cool limestone, clean water — that speaks directly to the Southern Alps source. Young but poised. Bright and quietly complex.

Palate: Silky and deceptively light on entry, with a refined intensity that builds slowly rather than announcing itself. Soft honeyed sweetness gives way to citrus oil, green apple, and a gentle baking spice warmth. The first-fill bourbon influence adds a clean vanilla thread that runs through the mid-palate without dominating. The Japanese barley contributes a subtle earthiness — almost grassy — that grounds the more delicate fruit notes.

Finish: Clean, medium-length, and elegant. Soft spice, lingering citrus peel, and a final trace of floral sweetness fade gracefully. The Karuizawa still's signature — a precision and purity that seems to concentrate rather than amplify — is present from first sip to last.