Yamazaki Releases Its Oldest Mizunara-Solely Aged Whisky

When Japanese distilleries began getting older their whisky in Mizunara oak within the Nineteen Forties and ‘50s, it wasn’t from a want to strive one thing new however slightly out of necessity; World Warfare II and its aftermath had minimize off entry to American and European oak.

Discovered within the Hokkaido area of Japan and different components of East Asia, Mizunara isn’t solely a uncommon wooden but additionally notoriously troublesome to make use of for barrel making. Fashioning a whisky cask from Mizunara oak requires additional talent and a spotlight from the coopers who work with the slow-growing, crooked, and porous materials that is liable 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 many years and continues to discover the boundaries of getting older whisky within the celebrated oak at the moment.

The newest Yamazaki launch, 25 Years Outdated Mizunara, is the oldest 100% Mizunara-cask-aged Yamazaki expression from the Home of Suntory. Most whiskies which are labeled as Mizunara are literally aged primarily in different forms of oak after which completed for a shorter time in Mizunara casks. Yamazaki, however, has the benefit of plentiful provides of older whisky aged completely 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 will be sensed within the end. By 20 years, the profile good points richness and complexity, with roasted coconut and incense-like aromatics coming into larger focus. It’s at 25 years and past that Mizunara really reveals its potential.”

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

The flavors imparted by Mizunara are in contrast to these from another oak. “The Yamazaki 25 Years Outdated Mizunara has a unprecedented texture, silky and refined, with flavors that unfold in layers,” Fukuyo notes.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 means of, it’s the complicated Mizunara wooden character that actually takes heart stage at this age. This whisky stays remarkably contemporary regardless of its age, which speaks to each the standard of the distillate and the endurance required to mature Mizunara correctly.”

Whereas Mizunara casks make up lower than 1% of Suntory’s whole stock, the 25 Years Outdated Mizunara will develop into part of Yamazaki’s everlasting vary, alongside the 18 Yr Outdated 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 got 70 years expertise. 

“We have labored out which components of the warehouse it must go in [or] how — if you recognize you are going to age it for 30 years — what number of years prior would you’ve gotten wished a whiskey to be in that cask to extract the harshness of the cask? All these kinds 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 means of 30, 40, and even 50 years — there’s potential for even larger depth and subtlety to develop, revealing additional uniqueness and particular qualities of Mizunara.”

25 Years Outdated Mizunara can be a Yamazaki perennial, nevertheless it gained’t essentially be extensively out there — portions are “restricted,” based on Suntory. An actual quantity isn’t out there, nevertheless it’s possible that even at a urged retail worth of $7,500, demand for this launch will outstrip provide.