Oldest Mizunara-aged Yamazaki expression released

The House of Suntory has released the oldest fully Mizunara-aged expression in the history the Yamazaki brand, with the launch of Yamazaki 25 Years Old Mizunara.

First used by The House of Suntory in the 1940s, Mizunara oak is prized for its fine grain and challenging properties, demanding a high level of skill from coopers and distillers. Whiskies matured in the rare Japanese oak must age for at least 10 years to develop its distinctive profile, marked by layered aromas of sandalwood, coconut and smouldering incense, producing a spirit that is at once subtle, refined and complex.

Expressions including Yamazaki 55 Years Old have featured partial Mizunara maturation, but this Yamazaki 25 Years Old has been aged in 100 per cent Mizunara casks. Yamazaki has acknowledged and honoured this prized Mizunara expression by presented this whisky in in a handcrafted box, assembled using a traditional Japanese nail-free ‘locking’ method.

Tasting notes for this whisky describe a “sweetness like apricot compote, cacao latte-like smoothness, and spiciness evoking nutmeg and cardamom on the nose; a bittersweet, spicy flavor with orange notes and nuances of cream on the palate; and a complex woodiness of Mizunara oak with bittersweet hints of oriental herbal medicine”.

Bottled at 48 per cent ABV, Yamazaki 25 Years Old Mizunara is available in a limited number globally in select markets, both in stores and online, for a RRP $21,750 AUD.

The new expression also meets the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association’s criteria for authentic Japanese Whisky: 100 per cent distilled, matured, and bottled in Japan.