Karuizawa 1999-2000 Vintages

Overall rating
89.80/100
ratings
9
Whiskybase ID
WB84629
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling series
Fugaku Sanjurokkei - 4th Release
Bottled
2016
Strength
60.1 %
Size
700 ml
Label
軽井沢 / Fugaku Sanjurokkei = 36 Views of Mount Fuji
Market
Japan Japan
Added on
11 jul 2016 7:22 am by Vassago Clynelish
UncoloredNon-chill FilteredCask Strength
Overall rating
89.80/100
ratings
9

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Whisky reviews for Karuizawa 1999-2000 Vintages

One user has left a review for this whisky. Average rating is 89.80 points.

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  1. whisky_knight scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    For my first dram of this legendary, ghost distillery, this Karuizawa 1999 & 2000 Cask Strength Fugaku Sanjurokkei 4th Release is very good, even with all the anticipation, excitement and hype that was built up around this tasting. I’ve heard so much about this distillery from online articles, seasoned whisky fans who say this is a bucket list “must try,” and beyond. And even with all of that build up, this dram was quite good and lived up to the hype.

    To address the elephant in the room (what I’ve been asking for years, and what my friends asked me after I tried this dram), “Is it worth the astronomical price tag these days?” I can’t answer that for you. Only you can decide what you’d want to spend to try this ghost distillery. But for myself, as much as I enjoyed this amazing dram, I don’t think I’d ever be able to afford the price of a full bottle of this Karuizawa nowadays.

    Back to the dram itself, it’s got a beautiful nose, with no alcohol burn. But it’s the palate, the controlled balance of something that’s 60.1% ABV (but is best enjoyed neat(!)), a beautiful gentle sweetness, but countered by the leafy, earthy, dusty dunnage and rancio. It’s got a unique character, tasting nothing like any of the other Japanese whiskies I’ve ever tried. My only regret is finding out about this distillery after it closed down. This is the best Japanese whisky I’ve tried in my life.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Alluring, ripe Honeycrisp apples. Apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Butterscotch. Cherry jam in the distance.
    • Taste
      91 91
      Medium viscosity. While the 60.1% ABV is initially felt, it’s actually quite controlled. It never overpowers the dram, showing a masterful balance. Cinnamon apples. Stewed ginger, rancio. Old leather bound books. A touch of dark chocolate bitterness by mid-palate.

      Unpeated, but there are notes that hearken to a touch of unburnt tobacco, leafiness. Balanced confit plums in the background.
    • Finish
      90 90
      Long. Fading ginger. Some baked apples, gentle malt appears, more complex rancio fade. Gentle dark chocolate towards the end.

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