Single Malt The Owners Cask Mizunara Butt 23YO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a highly matured 23-year-old single malt whisky, this spirit is bottled at its absolute peak of complexity and does not undergo further maturation in the bottle. It is ready to be savored immediately upon release and will remain in pristine condition indefinitely when stored upright, sealed, and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Seared Wagyu beef, rich glazed unagi (grilled eel), or premium dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage.
✨ Technical Specifications
Nestled in the misty vale where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge near Kyoto, the Yamazaki Distillery was established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii as Japan's first commercial whisky distillery. This legendary single malt represents a pinnacle of Japanese distilling heritage, selected under Suntory's highly exclusive 'The Owner's Cask' program. Aged for 23 years in a single Mizunara oak butt, this expression showcases the profound influence of Japan's native oak (Quercus crispula). Mizunara is notoriously difficult to cooper due to its porous, twisted grain, yet it rewards decades of patient maturation with an ethereal, highly prized aromatic profile reminiscent of Japanese temple incense (kara), sandalwood, coconut, and delicate oriental spices. This rare bottling captures a singular moment in Yamazaki's history, reflecting the harmonious relationship between Japanese nature, craftsmanship, and the passage of time.
🍾 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.