Distilled: Dec 1, 2000 - Bottled: Feb 1, 2013 - Aged: 12 years - Cask #: 5173 - Cask: Sherry Butt - Outturn: 185 - ABV: 64.8% - Private release (2nd): Liquors Hasegawa
Nose: Strikingly sweet with some tangy elements at intervals. Soft and restrained red licorice, tinned pineapple juice, cupcakes with lime vanilla frosting, and barley sugar. Then, my favourite, assorted Vietnamese dried fruit chips. There is a continuing presence of mild whiffs of dried, slightly dusty tree bark .
Taste: Spicy wood chips and green pineapple. Toffee is unmistakably present along with Duran fruit chips, dried lime (black lime) and a subdued ginger kick.
Finish: Moderate with subtle suggestions of green pineapple and again that dusty tree bark.
Comment: Another young, decent Karuizawa in my opinion that quite rightly tastes better in many ways opposed to some older expressions I have tasted. I quite enjoyed it not having a massive sherry kick.
Note: Although I own the bottle pictured above, this review was taken from a sample I was luckily enough, or should I say cheekily enough to have received. As I don't own too many Karuizawa this bottle is going to be kept for down the track. Thanks Brian.
For an alternate review at TJWR take a look here.
I wanted to comment on your site but I ended up commenting on Dramtastic's review instead!
ReplyDelete"Ah, I had the fortune of tasting this at a bar in town – Auld Alliance. Wonderful for such a young one. I wish I had a couple bottles of it."
Andy, I think many of us wish we had a couple of bottles of this. I recall you mentioning the Auld Alliance was under renovation, is everything complete now?
DeleteHi Clint, Auld Alliance reopened in January 2014, I've been back three times since.
DeleteWorth the extra from the Asama then - price/performance wise?
ReplyDeleteThe price of TCOFS was not really that much different to the 99/2000 vintage Asama, well depending on where you bought the later. At times I saw the Asama retailing for much more than TCOFS, so it is more about the performance opposed to price. That and the caliber of a single cask opposed to a vatting of many casks out ways the flavour profile and performance when comparing the two (in this case).
DeleteNice review, Clint! It is good to read about a non-sherried Karuizawa once in a while. As you know I have had some rather positive encounters with younger Karuizawas in the past, however never with a non-sherried version. Good stuff! Any chance to get a spare bottle for a fellow malt maniac? :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Pierre, yes it is fair to say, in my opinion, that this is certainly no sherry monster. Naturally this was matured in a sherry butt, but all elements such as taste, smell, colour, and possibly age highlight it wasn't a typical first fill. I really enjoyed this, without the "hype" due to the possible "non-typical" Karuizawa. Unfortunately these bottles are long gone Pierre (released Feb 2013). The only way to possibly obtain a bottle, like most Karuizawa, and as you know, is on the resale market.
DeleteFine review Clint and your welcome : )
ReplyDelete