Karuizawa 33 Years Old Vintage Cask 152 54,5% 1981

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Serge Valentin (92)

Colour: dark amber, but slightly paler than the bourbon. Ha! Nose: it’s not that different at first nosing, and it’s all probably more a matter of wood than a matter of sherry as such. After a few seconds, this one develops rather on resinous wood, thuja, pine and such (and cedar), becoming more balsamic than the bourbon version, more herbal as well. Camphor, thyme… and just as much tobacco. It’s almost like nosing a newly opened pack of pipe tobacco. With water: hurray! Old pu-erh tea, lapsang souchong, mushrooms, very old vin jaune, pinewood smoke… Mouth (neat): once again, we aren’t that far from the bourbon version. Same oranges and mandarins, same spices, just a little more roundness and easiness, maybe because of the lower strength. So yeah, it’s a wee bit lighter, but don’t get me wrong, it’s huge whisky. With water: this is precious old earthy tea – that’s right, our beloved old pu-erhs. I don’t quite understand why they’ve added ethanol to it ;-). Finish: long, becoming even earthier, with some tannins dancing on your tongue. I mean, a feeling of tannins. Comments: why are all the finer things in life so rare? You’re right, and so expensive? I was ready to go as high as 94, but the slightly drying tannins in the finish made me revise my score. Well, I’d say it’s a tie, although I’m now starting to wonder if the bourbon wasn’t a little… better balanced? Yes, we’re splitting hairs again…

Words of Whisky (93)