Yamazaki Mizunara

Yamazaki Mizunara is a no age statement single malt from Suntory's distillery in the valley of Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, where three rivers meet and soft humidity slows the maturing spirit. Released in 2020 for the European market, it is given wholly to mizunara, the Japanese oak that has become the distillery's most recognisable signature.

Full maturation in mizunara oak draws out the wood's sandalwood, incense and temple wood character over the distillery's ripe orchard fruit and vanilla, with a gentle spice running beneath. The porous, slow giving Japanese oak lends an aromatic lift that sets it apart from American or Spanish wood, the perfume deepening as the whisky opens. Bottled at cask strength 48%, it is concentrated and fragrant, a focused study of mizunara matured Yamazaki and the signature it brings to the house spirit.