Karuizawa 1977, Bot. 2010, Cask No. 4592 Noh
Bottled for Whisky Live Paris 2010
The note is all chicory and coffee, earthiness and cardamom — whisky reduced to some weird essence by long maturation. The effect is one of an old-fashioned cough medicine(with less laudanum). The palate is explosive with masses of camphor, tar, licorice, and squid ink. This is Japanese whisky at its most extreme, and fainthearts should not venture here. Those with a taste for the big and the bold will love it, however.
Tasting note by Dave Broom
About the whisky
- Price: about £300
(∼ 350€, $469 or 3,040SEK) - Age: 32 YO
- Alcohol: 60.7%
- Distillery: Karuizawa
- Country: Japan
- Location (at Google)
- Buy Karuizawa 1977, Bot. 2010, Cask No. 4592 Noh
This is an amazing gem, hard to find (only 190 bottles). It’s not very often I get a chance to try this hard to get, expensive whisky. I got this from Master of Malt sample series, a great way to try really amazing whiskies for a nice price.
The ABV his amazing, but still calm when nosing. I’m impressed that it doesn’t burn your nose away. Lots of toffee, wine, sherry and sweets.
The taste comes to like a bomb of sherry, grass, wine. Really complex but still very compact and fresh. Some nuttiness and bitter.
To summarize it, it will not come any better than this. Strong, bold, beautiful and burning. Lots nice sweetness and sherry with lime fruits and wood. Go and get it if you find one.
Just tried it after receiving it yesterday! Took longer then expected.
Noh-bottles are usually from wine-casks and no exception here. It reminded me of a very strong white whine with lots of smoke, honey and old medicine. If tried blind i probably wouldnt call it an whisky but maybe an old herbal bitter.. Powerful long aftertaste that seems to last forever. Splendid Karuizawa! Wonder if the Japanese are not going to re-open the distillery.. Damn shame to loose this!
After reading Dave´s notes i cant wait to taste it! Many thanks to the people who helped me get this bottle! Now the long waiting… Will post my own tasting as soon as possible!