Located at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama, the Karuizawa distillery was founded in 1955 and production ceased in 2000. Its now legendary single malt has written some of the greatest chapters in the history of Japanese whisky. Matured in a sherry cask until 2018 by the Taiwanese company Hua Yang, which owns the largest stocks of this prestigious malt, this especially mineral bottling reveals very exacting standards, ranking it among the highest tiers. To really appreciate the many subtleties and treasures of its flavour and aroma palette, wise tasters will make sure to take their time..

Tasting notes

Appearance : Acajou

Nose : Rich, powerful. The impressive first nose reveals notes of blood orange, smoked lard, dark chocolate, tuberose, wild strawberry and incense - no less! Allowed to breathe, the aroma palette moves into polish notes of a rare intensity, from varnish to mastic, polished parquet and wood filler.

Palate : Lively, stately. On the attack, a magnificent liquorice reduction leads into animal (bresaola, Grisons beef) and empyreumatic (tar, pipe tobacco) flavours. Grains of dust then fall onto the very mineral (charcoal, Indian ink) and salty flavour palette.

Overall : Long, concentrated. Straightaway, lime, ground almond and candied apricot highlight the oxidative and rancio character of the start of the finish. In the after-taste, basketfuls of red and black fruits spread through the palate. The retro-nasal olfaction is at once infused and milky (latte, café crème).