Japan learnt from Scotland how to make whisky, but nowadays Scotland is the one who is borrowing a trick from Japan. And an example of this is the new Chivas Regal Mizunara.
This blend was born, according to the brand, from a trip to Japan. Colin Scott, Chivas Master Blender, was traveling through Japan when he got inspired. He decided then to create a blend specifically tailored to the Japanese palate. To do so, there was nothing better to build on than Mizunara barrels.
If you haven’t heard about Mizunara barrels, there’s just three things you need to know. First, Mizunara means “water oak,” and it is a tree with a hard and permeable wood. Second, there are few Mizunara trees available in Japan and, to make a barrel, it is necessary that the tree is at least 200 years old. That makes Mizunara barrels quite expensive. Finally, Mizunara is a more humid and porous wood, allowing for a deeper, richer interaction with the whisky. To summarize, Mizunara casks are quite rare and expensive, but they give some spicy notes and an astringent touch to the whisky.
