Karuizawa 1988 Bottled 2007 Cask 3397

Karuizawa 1984/2012 Koi (The Whisky Exchange) cask 4021

From tasting notes back in March: 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, coconut, and a...

Score 92/100

Karuizawa 1981 31 Y.O. 'Noh' cask 155 (bot. 2013)

sample from a friend Nose: Ah yes, this is the stuff. Rich, typical Karuizawa. Plums, dates, dense millionare bread, cherries (bitter and sour), and varnished leather belt. Molasses and pressed orange zest, figs marinading in aged cognac. Some ginger. The sherry here is just a light touch of smoke and cocoa. Turkish coffee grounds leftover....

Score 92/100

Karuizawa Spirit of Asama

Karuizawa has been on my must-try radar for a while since expressions from this distillery are extremely rare or super expensive or both. Which is why it was nice to be able to get my hands on this not so expensive offering. The Spanish sherry is clearly evident in the first nose though it's not as punchy as I would have liked it to be. There are...

Score 86/100

Karuizawa Spirit of Asama

Well, my first set of notes in a long time. I'd sipped this before I went on hiatus, and have had it a few times since I resumed sipping. Here's hoping that I haven't lost my sense of smell or taste! Nose: Rich and fudgy malt, obviously sherried, chocolate, and then dashes of sweet red fruit behind it. Kirsch at first with damp forest floor....

Score 86/100