Karuizawa 28 yo 1984/2012 Sherry Butt #3692

More Karuizawa! Tough times for ol' numen, eh?

Nose: Some cedar, but high on game meats, dried fruit nibs. Jam! Strawberries, coffee, and something slightly bitter that's 'off,' but delicious. Also some orange marmalade along with a mix of coffee and dark chocolate tones. (with water) bourbon honey, if you know what I mean, and caramel. wood, coconut, and a cedar box. very dark dates. what a transformation! eventually more coffee and very light game notes. the subtle salt is really splendid.

Palate: Wow! the entry is red berries and orange liqueur. this quickly yields to some wooden bitterness, just temporarily and then blends into gorgeous coffee and sherry after a lovely 5-course meal. Pecans, peppers, pralines, as well as burnt sugar and chai tea in the background. (with water) Sweeter, and again more rum+bourbon, but the scotchy sherry notes return. extremely graceful.

Finish: long and elegant, with coffee, subtle berries, caramel coated fruit, oxidative sherry notes, and wood. This is a sherry bomb, but it never loses itself in any direction. The gamey meats help keep these sorts of things in check, and these do very, very well for me. A- (92)

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