Mizunara Distillery

Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula) is not the obvious choice for whisky making and maturation. Mizunara oak is rare and expensive to obtain, it grows twisted so is difficult to cut into staves and being both wet and soft is an ordeal for the cooper. If that was not enough the casks have a tendency to leak. Despite all this, whisky producers in Japan are enthusiastic about it, and the wood is starting to attract attention around the world due to its unique flavour profile.