Nose: It's big and ballsy on first encounter. You'll get initial alcohol burn, but form there on there are a myriad of different aromas. Take your time. It becomes complex. Mens original cologne (spicy/sweet). Berliner filled with plum and strawberry jam filling. Fruit Loops, glazed Saville oranges, pink grapefruit, pomegranate, wine gums, berry marinade, raspberry-flavoured chewy confections, and rich berry tea. It doesn't stop there, next, fruit Lifesavers and authentic Turkish delight before it goes all tarty and spicy. Then, there is a touch of smoke (from cap guns?), new leather, and dried lemon peel before the sweetness starts again. Dried figs and dates (more so on dates) on sweet wheat based cereals. Berry mouse with honey. Fruity red wine and smoldering trees. The trademark warm rubber is present and welcoming (engine rubber hoses). The addition of water doesn't dramatically change the appearance but it highlights the sweetness (raspberry, cranberry, and/or red wine sauce) and tames the alcohol/spiciness.
Taste: Relatively intense on the spice front with pepper berries. Cigar leaf, warm rubber radiator hoses (not that I've ever eaten one), peppered raspberry lamb chops, burdock root marinated in soy sauce and black sesame seeds. Eucalyptus drops. Mild bitter grape tannins and a tad dry. Mild berry balsamic. As with the nose water tames the spiciness and turns up the sweetness before adding bitter dark chocolate and cloves. But also it turns up the warm rubber hose and it can become metallic.
Finish: Pepper berries, black bean sauce, red-wine gravy sauce, and mild bitter grape tannins. Warn rubber engine hoses. It becomes a tad dry and chalky with water.
Comment: 'Kohaku' in English means amber - named accordingly with the intention to describe the lush red amber liquid inside the bottle, which apparently, according to written and verbal sources, was matured in red wine casks, as with the distillery's Rouge bottlings (if any one can clarify that please share your thoughts)? This single cask 10yo Kohaku (vintage 1995) should not be mistaken with the single malt 10yo version bottled at 40% (non-vintage). The 59.9% abv bottling is a true experience, a must, if it can be found. What a lovely Karuizawa.
Rare Japanese Drams 1 & 2 can be found here and here.
Rare Japanese Drams 1 & 2 can be found here and here.
A touch of smoke from cap guns, engine rubber hoses and red wine sauce - what an absolutely enticing nose. I'm glad, though, that the balsamic notes are mild with this one. Never heard about this bottling before. I assume this is an OB, Clint?
ReplyDeletePierre, yes this is a Mercian OB bottling. The cask strength version is not easy to come across in my opinion however, you will see it pop on the resale market from time to time. I should point out that the cap gun smoke and rubber hose is far out weighed by red fruits and assorted wine notes creating a good balance on both flavour and aroma. The balsamic is extremely mellow, nothing compared to that beast you have.
DeletePersonally I'd say this tastes very much like the 40% version but at cask strength. I do prefer the cask strength version though as the flavor profile needs the extra grunt to make an impact!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried the 40% version as of yet so unfortunately I can't make any comparison, I'd like to. Interesting to hear that you personally feel both versions have a similar flavour profile considering the ABV gap. The grunt is certainly there, I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops with oxidization. Didn't know you had a bottle of this Brian.
DeleteTried the CS version at Zoetrope before I bought my bottle of 40% Clint. Putting it another way, the 40% is just a watered down version of the CS.
ReplyDelete