DESCRIPTION
From this incredibly popular lost Japanese distillery, which has produced so many internationally acclaimed malts.
Distilled in 1984 and bottled from a Spanish oak sherry butt #3692 in 2012.
One of 359 bottles.
TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)
Colour: dark red amber. Nose: a gun that just fired, reminds me of my days in the army (conscription). So yeah, a lot of gunpowder and struck matches, and even truffles at first nosing, but no hard boiled eggs, asparagus or cooked cabbage in there. So no mercaptan/thiols, luckily. What’s more, as often those notes tend to go away, leaving room for quite some chocolate and raspberry jelly. Now, it’s very strong, so… With water: goes toward dried porcinis, cigars, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and, maybe, even old Parmesan cheese. Also bags and bags of roast chestnuts – I don’t think I ever got that that loudly. All that is quite lovely. Mouth (neat): rich and powerful, it’s more some kind of ultra-heavy jam at this point. Prunes, Armagnac, black pipe tobacco and a tarry/smoky side that may come from the high strength. Let’s see… With water: this time it became a little gamy and very dry, with this gunpowder that came back. Bitter chocolate, some ginger, heavy herbal liqueur (starting with a J., dear) or even this weird thing called Schinken häger. Ever tried that? Finish: long, dry, very chocolaty. Quite some white pepper. Smokier and ashier aftertaste. Comments: I think you have to like gunpowder to enjoy this baby, which doesn’t necessarily mean you need be a belligerent person (S., you’re tired). Not utterly stellar in my opinion but quality’s very high, no doubt. SGP:463 - 89 points.
PRODUCT SUMMARY
Distillery | Karuizawa |
Classification | Japanese Single Malt Whisky |
# Released bottle | 359 |
Vintage | 1984 |
Age | 27 |
Bottler | Official Bottling for Number One Drinks Company |
Bottling Date | 2012 |
ABV/ Volume | 61.6%/ 70cl |
Rating/SGP | 89/463 |
Cask Number | 3692 |