I have quite a few Karuizawa samples waiting on my desk, so we better move forward and start with this Karuizawa 1983 Noh, bottled last year. Not exactly a summer malt but we’re not complaining.
Karuizawa 28 yo 1983 ‘Noh’
(57,2%, No.1 Drinks 2012, sherry butt #7576, 571 btl.)
Karuizawa 28 yo 1983 ‘Noh’Nose: beautiful Karuizawa elements come out right away. Mocha beans and chocolate, figs and cherries, as well as some tobacco. Lacquered meat. Raisins. Liquorice. Also a dryness of black tea and leather. Hints of mint and plenty of polished sandalwood. Very expressive and well balanced.
Mouth: powerful, this time very much on cigar leaves and pipe tobacco. Very concentrated notes of forest fruits, red berries and prunes. Goes on with nice bonfire smoke and earthy notes. A bitterness of mint stems, walnut skin and wood. Eucalyptus. Then back to sweeter toffee, balsamic syrup and cough sweets.
Finish: long, fruity and nutty. Milk chocolate. Liquorice and plenty of herbal notes.
Another one of these very intense Karuizawa expressions that still manage to keep the rich balance between sweet, sour and savoury notes perfectly right. As small extras there are peaty notes and the classic exotic woods. Quite wonderful. Long gone.
Score: 93/100