A 1976 Karuizawa aged 32 years in a sherry butt and bottled for the Noh series at 63.0%. It dates from the first years of the series, which began in 2008.
About This Whisky
Number One Drinks launched the Noh series in 2008 as its main line of single-cask Karuizawa. Each label shows a mask or a scene from Noh, the classical masked drama of Japan, and each bottling is a single cask at natural strength. Cask #6719 held spirit from 1976, the year Karuizawa's first single malt came out. After 32 years the whisky had barely lost any strength, so it is bottled at 63%.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Big sherry, walnut and leather, with a bright line of orange and lemon peel.
- Palate: Powerful yet surprisingly easy with water. Dried fig, date, bitter orange and clove on old oak.
- Finish: Very long and warming, with nutty, leathery sherry notes.
Serving & Food
Start with a small measure and plenty of time. At 63% water is almost essential, so add it in stages until the heat settles. Serve with roast venison, candied walnuts or Manchego and quince paste.
How to Enjoy
Experienced whisky hands who like old, high-strength sherry casks and follow the Noh bottlings.
Product Details
Distillery: Karuizawa (closed)
Series: Noh
Bottler: Number One Drinks Company
Vintage: 1976
Age: 32 years old
Cask Type: Sherry butt
Cask Number: 6719
ABV: 63.0%
Country: Japan
Volume: 700mL
About the Distillery
For most of its life Karuizawa had wine people in charge. Daikoku Budoshu built it beside a winery, and the business later became Mercian, a wine company, which ran the distillery until it closed.
The winery link also explains the cask choice. Spanish sherry butts were standard from the late 1950s, and the heavy spirit took well to them. Long-aged Karuizawa became closely linked with dark, dense sherry.