For whisky lovers, those made in Japan's distilleries are among the highly sought-after brands, and the style of Karuizawa has garnered popularity for its rich, matured and resinous taste.

A bottle of 1960 Karuizawa sold for 5.98 million yuan ($940,000) to top a whisky auction in Tianjin earlier this month.

The sale held by Pacific Auction offered a variety of whiskies, produced in different styles and by several renowned distilleries and featuring classic bottle designs.

The sale fetched more than 22 million yuan to reflect a cult following for the vintage spirit at the home market.