The Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old 2024 Edition is one of the standout releases from the House of Suntory’s 2024 Tsukuriwake Collection, a series created to showcase the different whisky-making techniques and maturation styles behind Yamazaki and Hakushu.
This expression places the spotlight entirely on Mizunara Japanese oak. The whisky has been matured for at least 18 years in Mizunara oak casks, allowing the notoriously difficult Japanese oak sufficient time to develop the aromatic character for which it has become famous. Suntory notes that prolonged maturation is particularly important with Mizunara, bringing out distinctive spice, sandalwood and incense characteristics.
Mizunara is exceptionally challenging and expensive to work with. The oak grows slowly, is porous and prone to leakage, while suitable trees can take more than 200 years to fully mature. Suntory states that Mizunara represents less than 1% of the casks used by the House of Suntory, adding considerably to the rarity of long-aged expressions such as this.
Bottled at 48% ABV, the 2024 Edition offers a particularly focused look at one of the defining flavours of mature Japanese whisky: Yamazaki spirit shaped by extended maturation in Japanese oak.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Reddish amber.
Nose: Rich dark cherry and ripe peach lead, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg and elegant aromatic oak.
Palate: Refined and gently spiced, with candied orange notes developing alongside the distinctive aromatic character of Japanese incense.
Finish: Exceptionally long and lingering, with clove, sandalwood and dried coconut gradually emerging through the oak and spice.
Technical Details
Distillery: Yamazaki Distillery Producer: House of Suntory Country: Japan Region: Yamazaki, Osaka Prefecture Whisky Type: Single Malt Japanese Whisky Age: 18 Years Maturation: Mizunara Japanese Oak Casks Edition: 2024 Edition – Tsukuriwake Collection ABV: 48% Bottle Size: 700ml Bottling: Limited Edition Natural Colour: Not officially stated Chill Filtration: Not officially stated
The Yamazaki Distillery was established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii and is recognised by Suntory as Japan's first and oldest malt whisky distillery.
Why It’s Special
There are plenty of whiskies on the market carrying the word Mizunara. This is a rather different proposition.
Instead of using Japanese oak briefly as a finishing cask, Yamazaki has given the whisky more than 18 years in Mizunara, allowing the wood's distinctive sandalwood, incense, coconut and exotic spice character to properly develop. Suntory itself describes extended maturation as the key to unlocking Mizunara's character.
Combined with its 2024 Edition designation, 18 year age statement and 48% bottling strength, this is a serious Yamazaki release aimed as much at collectors of Japanese whisky as drinkers looking to experience mature Mizunara oak at its most expressive.
A genuinely special bottle and one where the cask isn't merely part of the story; it is the story.
Delivery within South Africa:
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