Karuizawa 36 Years Old Vintage Single Cask:6878 64.1% 1971

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Serge Valentin (90)

This one won one of the five Gold at the Malt Maniacs Awards 2008. What an amazing strength at 37 years of age! Colour: amber – bronze. Nose: very hot and more on gentian eau-de-vie and very ‘ripe, dry figs’ (not rotting but quite). This should be superb but it’ll burn your nostrils as sure as 1+1=2. So, with water: loads of soft spices, ginger, sultanas, a little mint and unusual hints of Swiss cheese (gruyère – no flaw here, rather the contrary). It IS superb. Mouth (neat): ouch! As hot and heavy as a spirit can be, but not vulgar it seems… These notes of figs seem to be there, though… With water: yes, the figs are here, alongside dates, caramel fudge, a peppery peatiness, sultanas and plum jam. Simply excellent. Finish: long, maybe just a tad rough (but the 1977 was a little rough as well). Comments: yes, simply excellent. Gets even better after 30 minutes of breathing.