SHINY THING$ 0175 ✨

Storytelling is the soul of collecting. Usually, these stories are woven around tangible artifacts—physical objects from the past imbued with intense emotion and often accompanied by equally extraordinary value.

But our next two IPOs are different… 

They offer something intangible (at least for now) yet steeped in a story spanning 70 years of heritage.

Soon, you'll have the rare opportunity to acquire equity in what Forbes dubbed "the greatest whisky in the world," sourced directly from Japan's revered Karuizawa distillery. You'll be able to own whisky while it's still maturing in its barrel—liquid from the very first pours marking the revival of one of Japan's most iconic distilleries—and you'll help shape how that whisky evolves.

This unique narrative deserves to be shared in full, and we'll unveil every detail over the next two weeks. But today, in the 175th installment of Shiny Thing$, we wanted to tell the quick story of the revival of this legendary brand and why it matters…

First, we’d be lying if we didn’t point out the global respect given to Japanese product offerings of all kinds — it’s become evident in fashion, architecture, restaurant culture, and design that the attention to detail and the effort level put into high end Japanese products is a cut above the rest on a global scale. The craftsmanship passed down from the previous generations masters is the foundation of Japanese culture.

And while still a bit under-the-radar to the masses globally, Japan brings that same unwavering pursuit of excellence to the production of its premium spirits. Consequently, whisky from Japan’s best distilleries transcends “beverage”… it’s considered art.

Over the past decade, single malt whiskies from Japan have emerged as some of the most coveted and valuable collectibles for discerning investors and enthusiasts, particularly here in the US. Amidst the surging global demand for premium Japanese whiskies, iconic distilleries such as Karuizawa have become market benchmarks and symbols of excellence. That wasn’t always the case though… there was a time not so long ago when Japanese whisky was far from a booming business, and even a name so revered today like Karuizawa couldn’t escape the economic pressure.  

Established in 1955 near the small town of Miyota, nestled on the slopes of Mount Asama, Karuizawa Distillery was a meaningful name even in its infancy. But after ceasing operations in the early 2000s due to financial constraints, the distillery remained dormant — a preserved legacy awaiting revival.

In 2022, Karuizawa re-emerged under the stewardship of original Master Distiller Osami Uchibori (Uchibori-san), supported by his protégé, Yoshiyuki Nakazato (Nakazato-san). Together, they crafted a limited test batch that same year as a callback to the original production methods that made Karuizawa the Japanese single malt. Unfortunately, Uchibori-san passed away shortly after hand-pouring this first batch, marking the 2022 casks as his final direct legacy. Subsequently, Nakazato-san assumed the role of Master Distiller, and poured the 2023 liquid as the first under his new role with the decades of tutelage from Uchibori-san to guide him.

Production from the rejuvenated Karuizawa remains extraordinarily limited. Only 20 single sherry casks were filled in 2022 with just 5 making their way into private hands, followed by fewer than 250 in 2023 of which only 25 were legally allowed to be sold outside of the country, all adhering closely to the original methodologies and recipes established nearly seven decades ago. Each cask is anticipated to yield a minimum of 300 bottles upon reaching the baseline 10-year maturation period. Given current market valuations, where each comparable bottle of Karuizawa single malt commands prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,500, investors in these casks are positioned advantageously with the flexibility to either sell entire casks pre-maturation or to bottle and distribute these rare expressions in collaboration with Karuizawa.

At Rally, we’ve been given an opportunity that uniquely combines upside potential with immersive cultural engagement, offering unparalleled access to the legacy and future of Karuizawa whisky with multiple casks from both of those earliest pours.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be distributing details and telling the full story of Karuizawa — and you’ll be able to add to that legacy very soon. 

Until Next Week…