posted 18 Nov. 2011

Willie JJ gave this whisky 91 points

Color

Deep gold

Nose

Delightfully perfumed. Floral with violets and heather (ironically) and lots of other summer flowers that seem familiar, but I cant separate out. Hints of tropical fruits stored in hay, but the floral aromas are dominant. No sign of wood that I can find, but there is smoke and lots of it. But its not forceful. It's like a peat fire that has burnt down and thrown off all the dampness and gently glows filling the room with wonderful tarry smells. There's maybe a hint of elastoplast, but the medicinal smells are shy. Just wonderful.

Taste

The peat is there, but that amazing floral perfume just cuts through it and gives it a sweetness that waters the mouth. Then the peat asserts itself. Full on tarry flavours now. Magnificent.

Finish

Here comes the creosote and all the other things that have the peat-heads jumping for joy. The finish is only medium length and the slight ashiness at the end doesn't detract from it at all.

Comments

Fantastic stuff. A joy to drink. I understand that they no longer use peated malt at Karuizawa. I hope that works out for them, but on the basis of this, I'll be buying a bottle or two of the peaty stuff.

 

It's better to have drunk it all than never to have drunk at all.

posted 13 Sep. 2011

 

Color

Amontillado sherry

Nose

Spicy and chocolaty with something sweet that I can't identify - molasses perhaps?
Floral. Interesting because there are lots of aromas in there that I haven't identified yet.

Taste

Initially some lemon in here. Then it gets a tang of peat - is this peated? I don't know.
Then some creosote - or is it asphalt? I find this quite complex. Hint of ginger that reminds me of Nadurra

Finish

Reasonably long and ull of that same creosote/asphalt element.

Comments

This is very good stuff

 

posted 4 May. 2011

Hering gave this whisky 88 points

I have spare bottles of this impression to swap for other interesting things. Please check my wishlist for possible options.
I go to Limburg every year so there's an opportunity to make swaps there without having to send the bottles.

posted 24 Apr. 2010

peathead gave this whisky 90 points

Color

Chestnutoloroso sherry

Nose

(neat) Sweet alcohol, flowers, fresh fruit (apples?), it's quiet malty. Very soft at this alcohol %. It makes me think of a very full bodied Speysider. (with water) After a few minutes it becomes amazing! I pick up diesel (yes, I do), seaweed, and some peat. I almost don't dare say it but it reminds me of a light version of the Laph 30 (!!!).

Taste

(neat) Very hot on the tongue! The high alcohol percentage camouflages a lot of flavours. Yet I can pick some peat and some smoke. It's still somewhat sweet with some flowery notes. (with water) Much better! This becomes very complex. Walnuts, some tar. It's strange, but there is something and I just can't put my finger on it. Oh boy, it sticks to my cheeks!

Finish

Hot (!!), peppery, a bit sweetish, walnuts and just a faint wiff of smoke.

Comments

This is SO different from the Scoth single malts whiskies I'm used to. It's a very peculiar whisky with a fantastic nose. A very good and complex whisky, mind you, but there is something 'mysterious' about it.

 

The only thing that tastes good in whisky is more whisky.

posted 10 Jun. 2009

Bachess gave this whisky 92 points

Color

Old gold

Nose

Candy, flowers and spirity. Not unpleasant!

Taste

Lots of raisins and fruits (oranges). Also some pepper and ginger (spicy). This Karuizawa can have the high strength (62.8%), without water it's even better.

Finish

Raisins again and more chocolat. The longer you wait, the better gets the whisky!

Comments

Good balance, great whisky

 

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