This expression is aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to American white oak barrels that have had the heads swapped out for Mizunara oak heads for the final months of maturation. Mizunara, which roughly translates to “water oak,” is notoriously difficult to work with and the trees must be at least 200 years old before the wood is mature enough for use. Highly sought-after the world over, Mizunara wood is only sold through auctions in Japan with single casks fetching thousands of dollars. Even just swapping the heads imparts the indelible qualities of this wood on the final spirit. The nose leads with aromas of cacao, cherry, toasted oats, and a bit of herbaceous eucalyptus. The palate is punchy on account of the whisky’s proof, with spicy ginger, underripe mango, and passion fruit riding a smoky, tannic backbone with white pepper and faint saffron on the finish.
- 100% single malt whiskey distilled and aged entirely by Kurayoshi Distillery in Tottori Prefecture, Japan
- Distilled in a copper pot still
- Aged in 53-gallon ex-bourbon barrels; finished in American white oak barrels with Mizunara oak heads
- The nose leads with aromas of cacao, cherry, toasted oats, and a bit of herbaceous eucalyptus; the palate is punchy on account of the whisky’s proof, with spicy ginger, underripe mango, and passion fruit riding a smoky, tannic backbone with white pepper and faint saffron on the finish
- Double Gold Medal SFWSC 2022 (Other Whisk(e)y)
- Non-chill filtered; 48% ABV
