Slainte-Mhath
Karuizawa Asama Single Malt 1999/2000
Single Malt — Miyota, Japan
Reviewed
December 16, 2017 (edited March 5, 2024)
Japan's iconic equivalent to the likes of Brora, Rosebank and Port Ellen is the 2001 closed Karuizawa distillery. Bottled in 2012, Asama is a vatting of the final vintages. Heavy sherry aroma, cedarwood and hints of curcuma inebriate the nose, enriched by complex notes of dried fruits, gunpowder and strawberries. At first sipping, spicy and tangy flavors overwhelm the palate before Mon Chéri, walnuts and fruity sourness start to emerge. The finish is lingering, peppery and semidry. A great young single malt that makes your fat wallet a lot thinner!
RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS
800.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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Can you believe it’s wasn’t too long ago that the Asama was selling for a mere $50-60?
Yes, that’s because the least expensive of the Karuizawa’s are still a boatload of money! :)
Congrats on the century :-)
Congrats on 100! It’s all sideways and stumbly from here
Happy Centenary, and a great whisky with which to mark the occasion! Huzzah!
100th review and time for something special! I had to choose between Brora, Port Ellen and Karuizawa but when I realized that there wasn't a single Karuizawa review on Distiller, that choice became rather easy. Thanks to everyone for reading my little summaries, and I am very much looking forward to the next 100 reviews. Slàinte Mhath!