Mizunara

Mizunara is a Japanese oak tree found mainly in the north and centre of the country. It is a tree that grows at its own pace and in its own way: it takes almost two hundred years to reach maturity, during which time it slowly draws its life towards the sky, forming knots and sinuous shapes and absorbing moisture.

It’s not like the oak we know in France, which grows quietly and straight! From then on, anyone who wanted to turn a mizunara into a whisky cask was in for a real nightmare.

After the Second World War, the defeated Japan faced a terrible shortage and organised its efforts. Importing American or European casks to age whisky became far too expensive. So the country turned to a local product: the highly impractical mizunara. Not only is its wood tortuous, it is also porous, allowing the alcohol to evaporate easily.

And yet… Today, Mizunara barrels are sold at a premium. Several thousand euros per barrel, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one. And why is that? Because difficulty often rhymes with complexity. Mizunara casks bring complex notes of sandalwood, spices and coconut. Enough to excite the world’s most discerning palates!