Karuizawa Batch 3 (TBWC)

Karuizawa distillery in Nagano Prefecture ran from 1956 to 2000 under Mercian before falling silent and eventually being demolished in 2016. The remaining casks have since been bottled by independents worldwide. This Batch 3 release, bottled in 2018 by That Boutique-y Whisky Company for the European market, presents 19 Years Old single malt aged in Ex-Bourbon casks, at a cask strength of 50.1% in a 500ml bottle.

Stepping a fraction higher than Batch 1 at 50.1%, this bottling stays within the bourbon-matured register: vanilla, cooked apple, light toffee and the underlying malty grain note that Karuizawa's Golden Promise base and small pot stills consistently contributed. The Ex-Bourbon vessel gives a cleaner, less fruit-dense profile than an Oloroso cask would, allowing the distillery's own character to show more clearly. A useful companion piece to the sherry-dominant side of the Karuizawa catalogue.