Karuizawa 28 Years Old Noh Whisky Chorei Beshimi Cask 7576 57.2% 1983

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (93)

Fun that they put a photograph of this humble taster aboud to try an old Karuizawa on the label ;-). Colour: dark amber. Nose: we’re roughly in the same category as the older ones from two or three years ago (1967 and such). That is to say that it’s ridden with incense, sandalwood, pipe tobacco and crème de menthe at first nosing, just before a massive combination of chocolate, prunes, coffee, peonies, eucalyptus and dried beef (Grisons meat) starts to strike. With water: figs and dates galore! And raisins, leather cream, old balsamic vinegar, almond oil… Truly wonderful. Mouth (neat): exceptional! Sure it’s a tad bitter and very ‘extractive’ (Jaegermeister) at very first sips, but the richness and the complexity are astounding, especially since the whole is also quite nervous (lemon) and anything but too thick – so it’s not cloying at all. The best pipe tobaccos. Menthol. With water: blimey, there isn’t the tiniest flaw in there, although it becomes a notch narrower with water. Maybe… Finish: long, fruity, jammy, spicy. Touches of green oak in the aftertaste, that’s were this baby’s maybe a little less stunning and loses one or two points. Comments: these babies are pretty unbeatable. Both massive and very elegant whiskies, not too sure Scotland can beat them fair and squar

Words of Whisky (93)

BOW (93)

Malt Maniacs Awards 2012 (MMA): 4th place overall winner and collected the "Thumbs Up Award" in the Ultra Premium Category, with an average score of 91 points.