The (sadly mothballed) Karuizawa distillery is at the opposite extreme to Eigashima. Peated malt, small stills, and sherry casks give a single malt of uncompromising weight and solidity. Those of you who thought Japan was all about the ethereal and limpid, think again. In musical terms, if Eigashima is the Modern Jazz Quartet, then Karuizawa is late period Coltrane, or if you prefer, it’s Black Flag to Eigashima’s Carole King. Anyhoo, did I mention this bottling (like all of this quartet from Number One Drinks) is green? Or at least has a color akin to tarnished silver? The note is all chicory and coffee, earthiness and cardamom — whisky reduced to some weird essence by long maturation. The effect is one of an old-fashioned cough medicine(with less laudanum). The palate is explosive with masses of camphor, tar, licorice, and squid ink. This is Japanese whisky at its most extreme, and fainthearts should not venture here. Those with a taste for the big and the bold will love it, however. – Dave Broom
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 89
Very interesting. Thank you very much for the review.
You must have got a pre-release bottle. I did not even know that this whisky is released (although is already sold out in pre-order at some stores). It does not appear on Number One list and is not really being sold anywhere. Is it not supposed to be available in September this year?
Do you know what cask type it is matured (Noh series is usually matured in wine casks)?
Wow, sounds great. And not a crazy price for a rare 32 year-old single cask. If only I had caught the pre-order a couple weeks ago
Wow, late period Coltrane used a single malt review. Fantastic. Two of my favorite things (excuse the pun): late Coltrane (with the exception of the classic 4tet and Dolphy colaborations from 1961 and intense and peated expressions (again, excuse the Coltrane pun). Well done.
More music integrated into whisky reviews, at least that read like this, is fantastic.
Serge would be proud. Where in the world can I get this stuff?
Fascinating. Sounds like a quite a wild whiskey. I like your tasting notes here but could I ask how, in your opinion, old-fashioned cough medicine is different than new?
old-fashioned cough medicine was always aged for at least 12 years in real bodega sherry butts; not in treated casks as began to be the case when big pharma bought out the artisanal compounders.
ha! good one!
for those of you who are interested (and likely to be in Europe this autumn), there will be a very small number of bottles available from La Maison du Whisky in Paris. A few other retailers will have some, too (although not as many bottles) but, as LMDW has by far the biggest range of Japanese whisky outside of Japan, then it’s the obvious place to go looking for it!
An update: The bottle can be found here ( http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/noh-karuizawa-32-year-old-1977-cask-4592-whisky/ ). I have not ordered from this company before, but apparently I have been deputized to order a post-Christmas present. If they ship here: Tastings at my house, or can I find a local place that doesn’t mind having someone drop a bottle by among friends?
I do not think that they still have it available. You can only get a sample. As a matter of fact, this whisky was only sold to those who were on a waiting list.
You’re right; sample’s being shipped and on its way.
Tried the sample with a friend. It was *spectacular*. Broom was right about the green. Serge was right about the gunpowder, camphor, and green pepper notes; the oiliness coats your mouth in a wonderful manner and stays forever. I swear there’s mizunara wood in there but it’s sherried. If you see it, grab it; I can’t afford a bottle at these prices. Thanks to Master of Malt for making those sample drams so ordinary enthusiasts like me can snag a taste.