Yamazaki Releases Its Oldest Mizunara-Solely Aged Whisky

When Japanese distilleries began growing older their whisky in Mizunara oak within the Nineteen Forties and ‘50s, it wasn’t from a need to attempt one thing new however somewhat out of necessity; World Conflict II and its aftermath had lower off entry to American and European oak.

Discovered within the Hokkaido area of Japan and different components of East Asia, Mizunara shouldn’t be solely a uncommon wooden but in addition notoriously tough to make use of for barrel making. Fashioning a whisky cask from Mizunara oak requires additional talent and a focus from the coopers who work with the slow-growing, crooked, and porous materials that is susceptible to leakage. 

The advantage of working with a wooden that has so many drawbacks is the completed product: whisky with distinct character, distinctive taste, and unbelievable complexity. Yamazaki, the oldest malt whisky distillery in Japan and a cornerstone of the Home of Suntory, has been working with Mizunara oak for greater than seven a long time and continues to discover the boundaries of growing older whisky within the celebrated oak right this moment.

The newest Yamazaki launch, 25 Years Previous Mizunara, is the oldest 100% Mizunara-cask-aged Yamazaki expression from the Home of Suntory. Most whiskies which can be labeled as Mizunara are literally aged primarily in different sorts of oak after which completed for a shorter time in Mizunara casks. Yamazaki, however, has the benefit of plentiful provides of older whisky aged solely in Mizunara.

Shinji Fukuyo, chief blender for Home of Suntory, explains that when whisky is aged in these casks for 10 years, the attribute “spicy aroma of Mizunara might be sensed within the end. By 20 years, the profile beneficial properties richness and complexity, with roasted coconut and incense-like aromatics coming into better focus. It’s at 25 years and past that Mizunara really reveals its potential.”

Per laws, the 25-year label for this whisky is simply referring to the youngest whisky within the mix. James Bowker, the worldwide advocacy supervisor for the Home of Suntory, says, “Typically, we now have round a 10-year age variance for Home of Suntory whiskies. So that is 25 years [at the] youngest. We will not inform you the best age, however I can guarantee you that the typical age is definitely fairly considerably larger.”

The flavors imparted by Mizunara are in contrast to these from another oak. “The Yamazaki 25 Years Previous Mizunara has a unprecedented texture, silky and refined, with flavors that unfold in layers,” Fukuyo notes. “It begins with an apricot-like sweetness, adopted by heat spices. Whereas the signature coconut notice from youthful Mizunara nonetheless shines by, it’s the advanced Mizunara wooden character that really takes middle stage at this age. This whisky stays remarkably contemporary regardless of its age, which speaks to each the standard of the distillate and the persistence required to mature Mizunara correctly.”

Whereas Mizunara casks make up lower than 1% of Suntory’s whole stock, the 25 Years Previous Mizunara will turn out to be part of Yamazaki’s everlasting vary, alongside the 18 Yr Previous Mizunara expression. It’s a testomony to how lengthy and the way extensively Suntory has labored with the uncommon oak. “Everybody else began utilizing Mizunara about 10 years in the past,” Bowker says. “We have 70 years expertise. 

“We have labored out which components of the warehouse it must go in [or] how — if you are going to age it for 30 years — what number of years prior would you’ve got wished a whiskey to be in that cask to extract the harshness of the cask? All these types of issues. And I am at all times mind-boggled by the standard of the Mizunara whiskies.”

This can be the oldest Mizunara cask-aged whisky launched to this point, and Fukuyo remains to be exploring its boundaries. “Even after 25 years, we’ve discovered that the Mizunara oak affect stays balanced, by no means overshadowing the underlying whisky,” he explains. “Whereas I don’t assume 25 years is essentially the place to begin, I consider that as time progresses — by 30, 40, and even 50 years — there may be potential for even better depth and subtlety to develop, revealing additional uniqueness and particular qualities of Mizunara.”

25 Years Previous Mizunara can be a Yamazaki perennial, nevertheless it gained’t essentially be extensively out there — portions are “restricted,” based on Suntory. A precise quantity isn’t out there, nevertheless it’s probably that even at a advised retail value of $7,500, demand for this launch will outstrip provide.