Nose: Dried fruits, marmalade, overripe apricots, oak, wood stain, maple syrup, oranges, pink grapefruit, praline, drying fresh tanned leather, tree sap. No sulphury notes, whoo hoo!
Palate: Very punchy without water with a fix of fizzy fruit sherbets, dried fruits, praline, nougat and oak. With water there’s some toffee, orange jus, pepper, strawberry conserve and licorice added.
Finish: Dried fruits, oak, strawberry conserve, mild peppermint and licorice. Finally dies on hints of leather and charcoal.
Last Word: A fine Karuizawa with a lot going on. Not a sulphury note to be found which puts it in the minority of Karuizawa sherry cask matured whiskies.
Rating: 88/100
*Note: Once again another problem with the cork on a Karuizawa bottling. On the 3rd opening of this bottle, the cork snapped in two. Had to fish out half the cork with wooden skewers and a pair of tweezers. Straight into the not good enough basket.
Nose: Papaya, mango, vanilla, apricot jam, oak, leather, banana, toffee. Delightful.
Nose: Dried pears, malt, bran, varnish, caramel, popcorn. Quite oaky for one so young. Some leather with water added. A little incense with a lot of water added
Nose: Lemon meringue, wood stain, fermented pears. Quite alcoholic and simple.
Nose: Deep earthy tones. Caramel popcorn, high end Cuban cigars, blueberries, mild peat, cloves, pepper, stewed rhubarb, nutmeg, ginger bread. All wrapped up in an elegant package.
Nose: A ton of leather and tobacco. Sherry drizzled toffee. Wood stain, figs, orange jus, white pepper, marzipan, nougat, prune juice, wet earth, peach jam.
Nose: Soft and rounded. Earthy notes, oloroso sherry, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, mixed peel, apricots, fragrant woods.
Nose: Leather, oak, glazed oranges slices, sherry?, tobacco, mint leaves, molasses, potato skins, fresh peaches, pepper.
Nose: Eggnog, toffee, key lime pie, lemon drops, barley, overripe pineapple, wood chips, papaya. Water adds apricot jam.
Nose: Fresh peaches, oak, straw, oats, dried pears, fabric softener, hint of sherry.
Nose: Pecan pie, stewed rhubarb, overripe peaches, orange liqueur, earthy sherry, luscious dried fruits, almond nugget. Water makes this more musty/earthy.
Nose: Cantaloupe, white peach, licorice, strawberry flan, touch of burnt orange. After about 5 minutes some mild peat and dried seaweed.
Nose: Rich and deep. Rosehip, dried fruits, creamy nuts, burnt toast with a little 
Nose: Young and spirity. Japanese pears fermented in cloudy sake. Loads of grunt. Apple cider, grilled pork, heavily lacquered teak, tobacco, icing sugar, white peaches.
Nose: Dry sherry, Japanese plums, candied orange glaze, brown sugar, Ron Zacapa XO Centenario, maple/golden syrup, nutmeg, tobacco, leather.
Nose: Lots of toasty notes. Roasted chestnuts, charred leather, caramelized orange jus, mixed peel.
Nose: Smoke infused lime, cucumber, pine, putty, medium earthy peat, hoisin sauce, pear jubes, green apple peels, lemon cough drops, corned beef, brine.
Nose: Beautifully rich, classic Yamazaki dark sherry. Leads with a bucket load of raisins. Blackberry conserve, ginger spice, stew rhubarb, balsamic, dark honey. Dark chocolate, oyster sauce, caramelised orange jus, sherry soaked oak. No harshness even at 61%.
Nose: Cherry cough mixture, eucalyptus bonfire, plums, brandy snaps. damp moss/earth,