DESCRIPTION

A 1968 from Karuizawa distillery, this was bottled in 2010 at a strength of 61.1% ABV for LMDW.

Karuizawa was founded in 1955 and was Japan’s smallest whisky distillery. In 1959, it became the first distillery to export whisky overseas. Sadly, Karuizawa distillery stopped production in 2000 and closed for good in 2011.

TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)

Okay, there was a 1967 last year (joint bottling between LMdW and TWE) that was ueberfab (WF95). This is a 1968. Yup, let’s keep this short and stupid. Colour: amber. Nose: a symphony for precious woods. Not even brutal at 61% ABV. Figs, dates, mead, dried apricot, then camphor and cured ham. And hundreds of other aromas. With water: a walk in the forest after the rain. And hundreds of other aromas. Mouth (neat): so rich, so punchy, so elegant at the same time! Mint, ginger, cinnamon, prunes, fruitcake and various honeys. Plus hundreds of other flavours. With water: I had thought it would become too woody with dilution, it doesn’t. Yes, and hundreds of… Finish: sadly, yes. I believe this wee baby’s just a tad drier and oakier than the 1967 and maybe a tad less smoky, but it’s still stunning. The industry’s former best kept secret stroke again. SGP:572 - 94 points.

PRODUCT SUMMARY