Karuizawa (silent) Artifices 003 By Warren Khong Japanese Single Malt Whisky 30 Year Old · 1985 Vintage

Colour

Deep amber with coppery highlights and a mahogany edge, radiating warm, honeyed depth.

Nose

Opulent nose of lacquered oak and old wood, brightened by rich sherry and dried fruit. Fig, blackberry and plum mingle with cocoa, espresso, and warm spices—clove and cinnamon—alongside tobacco leaf and leather. Subtle resin, vanilla, and a whisper of smoke complete a lush, restrained aroma that promises a complex, elegant palate.

Palate

Silky and opulent on the palate, a wave of dark honey, burnt sugar and espresso gives way to cedar, sandalwood and lacquered oak. Spices bloom—pink pepper, cinnamon—accenting dried apricot and toffee. Velvet mouthfeel with resinous smoke, leading to a long, warming finish of cacao, tobacco and orchard fruit.

Finish

An enduring, opulent finish of toasted oak, dark cacao and layered spice. Dried plum and fig give way to tobacco and incense, crowned by a wisp of smoke. The warm, silky heat persists, fading to cedar, vanilla, and a mineral undertone that lingers with refined precision.