Karuizawa 31 Year Old 1981 Noh Cask 155

Karuizawa 31 Year Old is establish in 1955, using the golden promise barley same as the Macallan. And maturing whisky with sherry casks. Sadly affect by Japan’s Bubble Economy, and Japanese whisky is not popular back in time, the distillery is close in 2001. The remaining casks of Karuizawa were all bought up, mostly by Number One Drinks Company, Eric Huang, La Maison du Whisky and The Whisky Exchange.

However. If you appreciate collecting items relate to Japan, the Karuizawa 1981/2013 31 year old 56% cask#155 Noh Whisky is a must-have addition. Its rich history and exceptional craftsmanship make it a prize gem for whisky enthusiasts. Having this bottle in your collection is truly a valuable acquisition for any collector, as it represents a prize possession.

Karuizawa 31 Year Old

Karuizawa label, this whisky features an image of the Noh character Asakura-jō, portraying an elderly common man. This beautiful mask has a unique origin, as everything began with the ingenious presentation of Karuizawa’s limited resources to whisky enthusiasts, primarily through various series. The Noh single cask series itself was initiated in 2008, featuring barrels that didn’t quite align with the official Vintage series. Noh represents an ancient form of Japanese theater with profound religious connotations, where actors, employing masks and their strategic use of light, skillfully evoke a range of emotions.

Nose: Plums, dates, dense millionare bread, cherries (bitter and sour), and varnished leather belt. Molasses and pressed orange zest, figs marinading in aged cognac. Some ginger. The sherry here is just a light touch of smoke and cocoa. Decadent, deep, and still precise. Spanish brandy essence and darjeeling tea leaves.
Palate: More old and bitter red and purple fruit jam and dates, quickly turning to leather coated with coffee and baking cocoa flecks. Lightly bitter and oak caramel. Cherry, skin of ginger root. Vanilla and cola, too. (with water) Nice and rather bitter coffee with some sweetened dark chocolate.
Finish: Especially with water, this really lasts on leather, coffee, old furniture, and varnished leather, a hint of salt, and thin caramel molasses. Just a dollop of fruit. Really a great Karuizawa, fairly typical of the age and vintage. The nose, especially neat, is the best. Maybe could use a bit more oomph on the palate.