Launched in Australia last October, Suntory released 5,000 bottles of the 18 year-old single malt, which was solely aged in Japanese Mizunara Oak.
Suntory says that early on, Mizunara displayed challenges to its blenders because it is a rare, hard and permeable wood, but chief blender and International Spirits Challenge judge, Shinji Fukuyo took on the task and sampled hundreds of whiskies to get the right balance.
Fukuyo said: “I wanted to reveal the whisky’s soul that is the Art of Mizunara—a heightened sense and awakened palate engaged through aromas and flavors never known before. Encountering it should be a moment of epiphany.”
Hailed as a ‘legend’ of the whisky world by experts, Fukuyo has been chief blender for Suntory since 2009 and his Mizunara series has won four gold medals at Drinks International’s International Spirits Challenge.
The Yamazaki Mizunara Cask 2017 Edition has a 48% ABV (96 proof) and comes with a suggested retail price of $1000 for 750ml.
