It’s good to have friends who shares with you the same whisky passion as you do. A while ago, November 2013, the SMWS released a duo of rare Japanese whiskies from closed distilleries just in time for Christmas shopping rush:

132.2 (Karuizawa) – Stunning Panorama of Exotic Fruits.  22yo refill sherry, 335 bottles, 62.4% (!)

131.2 (Hanyu) – Magic Carpet in a Sweetie Shop.  13yo first fill sherry, 646 bottles, 55.1%

As you know, I love the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and their whiskies, but this pair was bundled together at £300 and unfortunately, it meant they were out of my reach. But then the friends x-factor came in – Me, along with Tom Thompson and others, grouped together to buy the duo as we all wanted to have some of that duo. So quickly we all chipped in and purchased one duo for ourselves and earlier this week we finally got to tasting those in our own Tweet Tasting event.

This is the first post out of two, with the tasting notes of the first one we tasted – the Kauizawa SMWS 132.2 Stunning panorama of exotic fruits.

Karuizawa SMWS 132.2 Stunning panorama of exotic fruits (62.4%, 22 yo, ex-sherry, 335 bottles)

Nose: First sniff – some dried fruits and somewhat dry sherry impact in background, then big leather and a full bucket of old wood and wood polish, floral notes led by violets, nuts and nuts oil, big wax note, many exotic fruits, some meat/beef sauce, dusty lavender. A very powerful nose with high ABV (62.4% after 22 years. almost unheard of). When added a few drops of water, the nose turns less woody and more fruity and sweeter with rum like notes.

Palate: Start with mild wood notes which get stronger, then big heat attacks the mouth that morphs to sweet, ripe fruits with lots of floral impact, again parma violets, lavender, exotic fruits and spices. Chewy like the nose promised but a bit dry.

Finish: Long. full of polished wood and wax, musky lavender, some zest, oranges

Conclusion: This one is indeed stunning and full of exotic fruits. Aged whisky with fantastic nose, leaving me in awe. Excellent job by the SMWS for bottling this one, if you’re not a member, I heartily recommend it!

P.S. I still can’t believe the distillery actually closed down – what were they thinking?