Single Malt Mizunara Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
As a premium distilled spirit, this bottling is fully matured and ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release, but it will remain in pristine condition indefinitely when stored upright and away from direct light.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
High-quality dark chocolate, slow-roasted duck breast, or seared Wagyu beef.
✨ Technical Specifications
Yamazaki, established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii near Kyoto, is the birthplace of Japanese whisky. The 2020 Mizunara edition represents the pinnacle of Suntory's mastery over Japanese oak (Quercus crispula), a wood notoriously difficult to cooper due to its porous nature and tendency to leak. Historically embraced during World War II when European and American oak imports ceased, Mizunara wood requires meticulous craftsmanship and long aging periods to impart its legendary characteristics. This rare single malt showcases the profound influence of the local climate at the confluence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers, yielding a spirit defined by evocative notes of temple incense (kara), sandalwood, rich coconut, and dried fruit.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1923 by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, the Yamazaki Distillery stands at the foot of Mount Tennozan in Shimamoto, Osaka, as Japan's pioneering commercial malt whisky distillery. Situated where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge, the site was specifically selected for its exceptionally soft, pristine water and misty, humid microclimate that provides optimal conditions for barrel maturation. Yamazaki is renowned for its versatile production methodology, deploying washbacks of both wood and stainless steel, uniquely shaped copper pot stills, and a diverse cask regime featuring Japanese Mizunara oak, American oak, and Spanish ex-sherry butts. The distillery is celebrated globally for its layered, multi-dimensional single malt whiskies, most famously its flagship 12- and 18-Year-Old expressions characterized by complex notes of tropical fruit, sandalwood, and delicate spice.