Karuizawa 32 Years Old Noh Whisky Kamiasobi Shiroheita Cask 4592 60.7% 1977

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Serge Valentin (91)

Colour: amber with bronze hues.

Nose: what strikes me first is this
unusual combination of metallic and meaty notes with wheelbarrows of
gunpowder and peppercorn. Truly peculiar, especially since it develops on even more grilled meat and ham as well as… exhaust pipes? Sounds weird but it isn’t, it’s all very beautiful. With water: oooh yes! Water
makes wonders, it became fantastic, roasted, chocolaty, herbal, sappy,
minty, camphory, mushroomy (not musty)… In short, wonderful. If you
don’t add water to this kind of whisky you’ll just miss 80% of the
aromas.

Mouth (neat): hot and fruity. A bit difficult for that matter, you do not want to anaesthetize your palate before diner, do you? With water: it’s definitely rich, not exactly fruity in fact, rather kind of
resinous and slightly leathery. The oak becomes louder as well, with
spices starting to appear to the surface. Cloves, pepper, even mustard
(not wasabi!)

Finish: very long, peppery, dry, maybe just a tad drying
but nothing serious, it’s even something that sort of cleans your
palate.

Comments: the bad side of this is that there isn’t much
surprise. It’s brilliant old whisky.

BOW (92)