Karuizawa Time Slip Karuizawa x Kawasaki Ghost Series No.7 Cask 6432 43% 1970's

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Time Slip Karuizawa x Kawasaki Ghost Series No.7 Cask 6432 43%
There are moments in whisky where the past reaches out, shakes you by the hand, and whispers its secrets into your glass. This is one of them. A marriage of a 30-year-old Karuizawa single malt and a 45-year-old Kawasaki single grain, finished together in a Karuizawa cask, this so-called “Japanese blended whisky” is, in its soul, a single malt in all but name. But names, as we know, can be deceptive. What matters is what’s in the glass.

Nose: A ghostly whisper of antique oak, dried cherry, and soft leather—like stepping into an old library where time has stood still. Hints of sandalwood rise through the air, laced with a delicate wisp of incense, evoking the silence of a temple at dusk.

Palate: A slow, deliberate arrival—rich and textured. Stewed plums, dark chocolate, and a flicker of espresso bitterness, balanced by a honeyed warmth that speaks of decades in wood. The Kawasaki grain, impossibly refined, lends a soft creaminess, allowing the Karuizawa malt to unfurl its full majesty—sherried depth, resinous spice, and an echo of well-aged tobacco.

Finish: Long and contemplative. The oak lingers, drying ever so slightly, while a final flourish of dark fruits and a whisper of smoke remind you that some ghosts never quite fade.

A whisky that is both a relic and a revelation, proving once again that time, when given the right hands to guide it, can create something truly extraordinary.