Single Malt Mizunara Japanese Oak Cask 18YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
Bottled in 2017 after 18 years of cask maturation, this spirit is fully matured and will not develop further in the bottle. It is ready to enjoy immediately and will remain in peak condition for decades if stored upright, cool, and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
High-quality dark chocolate, slow-cooked Wagyu beef, and mature cheeses such as aged Gouda.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii on the misty outskirts of Kyoto, Yamazaki is Japan's pioneer distillery, celebrated for its pristine water source where three rivers meet. This rare 18-year-old single malt represents the pinnacle of Japanese whisky craftsmanship, aged exclusively in native Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula). The history of Mizunara is born of necessity; during World War II, import restrictions forced Suntory's cooperage to turn to this difficult, porous, and slow-growing local wood. Initially dismissed for its aggressive green wood notes, master blenders discovered that decades of patient maturation transform the spirit, imparting a legendary aromatic profile reminiscent of Japanese temple incense, sandalwood, coconut, and rich oriental spices.
🍾 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.