Note: This bottle is owned by a private person. We do not ship this bottle. It is only possible to collect this bottle from the shop in Rijswijk. For more information feel free to contact our shop. Phone number: +31703940085 or send an e-mail to info@passionforwhisky.com

Karuizawa 50 years 1965 - 2016 #2372 for 60th Anniversary of La Maison du Whisky

The Karuizawa distillery was founded in 1955 in the town of Miyota. This staff is located on the southern slopes of Mount Asama. In 1956, it distilled Single Malt Whisky, but it largely disappeared into the Japanese Blended Whiskies of Daikoku Budoshu. Until 1958, import restrictions made it difficult to obtain grain, so production was extremely low. Quality also left much to be desired. After the import ban, Karuizawa Distillery chose to follow Macallan's example and imported Golden Promise grain and aged the Single Malt in the very best sherry casks available. Unfortunately, times were against them and Japanese whisky was not as popular in the last century as it is today, forcing the distillery to close its doors in 2001. 

Origin and bottling

Distilled in 1965 and after a 50-year maturation, bottled in 2016 specifically to celebrate the 60th anniversary of La Maison du Whisky. Eventually, 309 bottles were bottled and of these, bottle 266 is now available.

Cask type

The Single Malt Whisky in this bottle has been matured for 50 years in cask number 2372. This has been an ex-Sherry Cask.

Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com) 90/100 points

Colour

Deep amber.

Nose 

The raisins are more in the front, as expected, while there are added gamy and herbal notes, around bouillons, stocks, perhaps even sausages, marrow… It’s also a notch smokier (pine smoke) and then much more on tobacco. Pipe, cigars, everything. Notes of gentian liqueur and chartreuse arising, verbena liqueur, woodruff, most certainly elderflowers… And always these big black raisins, Corinth style. And mint! With water: some kind of Spanish cake, the name escapes me. Raisin rolls, brioche… The herbal notes have gone, quite bizarrely, but not the ham. It’s not easy to come up with the perfect dilution, at this price, better not mess with it.

Mouth  

starts rather like an old sherried Glenfarclas, very chocolaty, a little brutal, with drops of raspberry spirit and some bitter oranges. It’s a rather sharp combination, and the very high strength doesn’t help. So, with water: the oak comes out, with more mint, dry herbs, cocoa powder…

Finish

Long, on some kind of cocoa plus lemon juice combination. Some tannins are there as well, black tea…

Comments

Well, the sherry’s more expensive, and it’s a great old whisky for sure (again, careful with water!)

The set is in mint condition, so includes the bottle, stamp, stamp dish, ink, photos and everything else.