Yamazaki 18 yo Mizunara Cask Tsukuriwake 2024 Edition

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The 2024 Tsukuriwake edition shows the effect of long maturation in Japanese Mizunara oak: every whisky selected for this Single Malt spent at least 18 years exclusively in casks made from this wood. This limited Yamazaki 18 Years Old Mizunara release has its own edition label. It was bottled at 48% and comes in a tube.

Mizunara is porous and difficult to make into watertight casks. For this whisky, Suntory therefore relies on long rather than short maturation in wood: the spicy and woody notes take time to develop, joining dark cherry, ripe peach and citrus here. Orangette adds another fruit note, while Japanese incense, sandalwood and coconut provide a distinctive contrast. Tsukuriwake refers to the diversity of production choices; within the series, this release places the choice of wood and length of maturation in the foreground.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, dark cherry and ripe peach mingle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Oak notes and a hint of Japanese incense follow.
• Palate: The whisky feels creamy on the palate. Delicately spiced orange and citrus peel sit alongside Japanese incense and malt.
• Finish: The long finish brings clove, sandalwood and a hint of dried coconut. Stewed fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Shinjiro Torii founded the Yamazaki Distillery southwest of Kyoto in 1923. It is Japan's oldest malt whisky distillery. There, Suntory oversees production from mashing and fermentation through distillation and maturation to bottling. The distillery belongs to Suntory Spirits Limited; Yamazaki is a brand of Suntory Holdings Limited.

Suntory began experimenting with Mizunara when imported oak casks were difficult to obtain in Japan. Initially unconvincing, the wood gained significance only with longer maturation. For the Tsukuriwake series shaped by Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory uses different raw materials and production methods; the Yamazaki 18 Years Old Mizunara centres on exclusive maturation in Japanese oak.

Facts: