Suntory Whisky has released Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition, a uniquely Japanese single malt aged exclusively in Mizunara casks with only 5000 bottles available globally.
Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition – Photo Supplied
Unlike many Suntory whiskies which are matured in both European sherry and Mizunara casks, the Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 has been blended from single malt whiskies aged entirely in Mizunara casks. To arrive at the blend, Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo tasted a few hundred Mizunara whiskies and selected casks with a minimum age of 18 years, with a small portion of the blend exceeding 50 years of maturation.
Mizunara is a hard Japanese oak found in only a few regions in Japan. It is a slow-growing tree, taking 200 years for the trunk to grow to 70 cm, Mike Miyamoto, Suntory Whisky Global Ambassador explains. The tree grows twisted and the branches have knots which make it a difficult wood to use in cask making. Mizunara oak is hard and permeable yet Through perseverance, Suntory’s craftsmen have mastered the art of Mizunara cask-making, identifying the perfect trees to make their casks.
Mizunara oak imparts distinctive spiciness and incense-like aromas, with notes of sandalwood and aloe wood that Suntory considers as the quintessential “Mizunara-ness.”
Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition Tasting Notes
- ABV: 48%
- Colour: Amber
- Nose: A rich and elegant fragrance, aloe wood, cinnamon
- Palate: A condensed sweetness, dry fruits, coconut and orange marmalade with silky palate texture
- Finish: A distinctive spiciness lingers with Japanese incense, aloe wood, cinnamon, and tartness
Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition is presented in a beautiful wooden box crafted from recycled Suntory casks.
This article was originally published on October 26, 2017 on our sister website Gourmantic.
