SINCE 2007

Karuizawa distillery 軽井沢蒸溜所 was a Japanese whisky distillery. It was located at Miyota, a town on the southern slopes of an active complex volcano, Mount Asama, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Established in 1955, the distillery began production in 1956. It was owned by Mercian Corporation and was the smallest in Japan. It was mothballed in 2000, and closed in 2011, The remaining whiskey stock from the distillery was purchased and re-branded, then released as a series of luxury whiskies.

Karuizawa 33 year old Toulouse Lautrec.

Distilled March 1980, bottled July 2013 by Karuizawa Distillery.
Cask number 4556, Sherry Butt. "... A lot of camphor, cough syrup, bitter oranges, touches of Spanish ham, probably some cranberry juice, even guava juice... Another one that's pretty perfect. With water: indeed. More menthol, more liquorice, maybe more wood extracts, Finish: very long and quite terpenic.

70cl/63,5%

Karuizawa 31 year old Toulouse Lautrec.

Distilled Oct 1981, bottled July 2013 by Karuizawa Distillery.
Cask number 78, Sherry Butt. "...Nose: Some kind of orange marmalade made out of the best oranges ever by the best marmalade makers ever. Behind that, lovely touches of verbena and wormwood. Mouth (neat): a smashing fruitiness, we're far from the thick oloroso style that other old Karuizawas can display. Unexpectedly clean and fresh, with many oranges, one or two slices of mango, some spicy honey and even quite some all-vitamins fruit juice. A restless and even youthful old sherried Karuizawa.

70cl/60,5%

Karuizawa-32 year old Toulouse Lautrec.

Distilled February 1981, bottled July 2013 by Karuizawa Distllery.
One of 186 bottles. Cask number 8461, ex-bourbon. "...I find this excellent, but maybe less unusual and spectacular than most other old Karuizawa.

70cl/57,3%

Karuizawa 33 year old Toulouse Lautrec

Distilled January 1980, bottled July 2013 by Karuizawa Distillery.
One of 124 bottles. Cask number 6431, ex-Bourbon."... jam, tamarind, incense, old white wines, raspberry jam, figs, mulled wine, maybe a little more wood smoke as well, roasted cashews Indian-style... The whole is big but not overpowering so far, I also love these huge chocolaty notes, the oranges, the soft spices... Finish: long, with a punctuating oak rather than, well a dominating one.

70cl/62,1%