A 35-year-old Karuizawa from ex-bourbon cask #8187, distilled in January 1979 and bottled in July 2014 for La Maison du Whisky. It was filled at 58.8% into 350 bottles.
About This Whisky
This is one of a trio of late-1970s bourbon casks, 1978, 1979 and 1980, that Number One Drinks bottled in 2014. The French writer Serge Valentin of Whiskyfun scored it 91 points. He found it grassier and earthier than its siblings on the nose, with a burst of lemon on the palate that he compared to limoncello. With water it turns almost medicinal, with eucalyptus and cough-syrup notes, and the finish brings a touch of caraway.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Brioche, black tea, pipe tobacco and menthol over marmalade and butterscotch, with a damp earthy note.
- Palate: Creamy lemon and mandarin liqueur, pipe tobacco, earthy spice and liquorice wood.
- Finish: Long, citrusy and earthy, with a little caraway.
Serving & Food
Serve at room temperature in a small nosing glass. Let it sit, then add a few drops of water to bring out the eucalyptus. Lemon tart and gravlax with dill both pair well, as does a plate of salted liquorice.
How to Enjoy
Fans of old bourbon-cask whisky with citrus and herbs rather than heavy sherry.
Product Details
Distillery: Karuizawa (closed)
Bottled For: La Maison du Whisky
Distilled: January 1979
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 35 years old
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon
Cask Number: 8187
Edition Size: 350 bottles
Bottler: Number One Drinks Company
ABV: 58.8%
Country: Japan
Volume: 700mL
About the Distillery
After the stock was sold, Karuizawa casks moved around. Sukhinder Singh of The Whisky Exchange bought part of the last stock, and two of his casks were kept for a time at Chichibu distillery before moving on to Scotland.
The name lives on in a new venture. A new distillery in the town of Karuizawa, a few miles from the old Miyota site, started production in 2023. It has no link to the old stills or stock.