Karuizawa 1981

Karuizawa 28 yo 1984/2012 Sherry Butt #3692

More Karuizawa! Tough times for ol' numen, eh? Nose: Some cedar, but high on game meats, dried fruit nibs. Jam! Strawberries, coffee, and something slightly bitter that's 'off,' but delicious. Also some orange marmalade along with a mix of coffee and dark chocolate tones. (with water) bourbon honey, if you know what I mean, and caramel. wood,...

Score 92/100

Karuizawa Spirit of Asama 1999/2000

from purchased sample: Nose: Fudge, and maybe a little chocolate and toffee, and kirsch. A little wood and something like a damp green forest. Vinuous, though somewhat earthy and savory - not the sulphur/salted meats. Surprisingly dark and rich for a whisky this young. Rather malty. Palate: Really nice texture and thickness. Brown sugar stew and...

Score 87/100

Karuizawa Noh Multi-Vintage #1

This incredibly generous sample was provided by Johanne McInnis ("Whiskylassie"). This Karuizawa (selected by La Maison du Whisky) is cask strength but comes from a mix of sherry butts and bourbon casks. Distilled in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984, the cask numbers are 6405, 4973, 8184 and 6437, and was bottled in October 2011. A bottle of...

Score 95/100

Karuizawa 1981 K&L Exclusive, cask 8775, bot. 2013

Nose: Syrupy and tightly wound cherries latrices. Brown sugar soup. Soy sauce, smoked Chinese pork ribs (light sulfur?) Moss, earthy mushrooms and old, nourished forest. A little closed, too. With time, oaky rancio, smoke, inscrutable wall of dark fruit, lots of chocolate. Nuts, marzipan, almond extract. Spun sugar and sugar cane almost...

Score 91/100