Mizunara (Japanese Oak)

Casks made from Japanese Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula), harvested primarily from Hokkaido forests. Mizunara is extremely rare and expensive — the wood is porous, prone to leaking, difficult to cooper, and requires trees over 200 years old. However, the resulting whisky develops an utterly unique aromatic profile of sandalwood and incense that cannot be replicated by any other wood. The porous nature requires extended maturation (often 15+ years) for optimal results.