Glendalough Distillery recently launched an Irish single malt finished in rare, Japanese Mizunara casks sourced from the island of Hokkaido, Japan.
It was a search for what’s described as the most flavorful oak that took the whiskey makers at Glendalough from their own wooded mountains in Wicklow to those in the volcanic north of Japan. Hokkaido is where you find Mizunara, one of the most sought-after oaks in the whiskey world.
Mizunara’s rarity makes sourcing a tough undertaking, but Glendalough was up for the challenge of being among the first Irish whiskeys to utilize this oak.
“Every whiskey has a story, this one has an epic adventure, worthy of being told over a glass. This whiskey came from a relentless search for the best oak on earth,” said Gary McLoughlin, founder of Glendalough, in a prepared statement.
By “best,” McLoughlin said he means most flavorful.
“What started in the wooded mountains around our distillery eventually led us to the snowy north of Japan, where we somehow managed to get our hands on Mizunara. As the first Irish distillery ever to use this almost mythical species of oak we had really ventured into the unknown,” he added.
The trunks of the Mizunara are prone to growing twisted, and they must grow to be twice the age of most oak trees before they can be felled. It then takes three years to dry, and can still be difficult to a cooper due to how porous they are.
However, whiskey can seep deeper into the wood, resulting in a what’s said to be unique, exotic flavor.
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Each bottle will have a little red thread, the Japanese call it the “red thread of fate.” This particular one represents a connection between the wooded Wicklow mountains and those of Hokkaido as well as the union of this Irish malt with some of the world’s most flavorful oak.
Glendalough 7-Year-Old Single Malt Mizunara Finish distiller’s notes:
- Nose: Vibrant, fruity and floral.
- Palate: A smooth mouthfeel with notes of dark chocolate orange, sandalwood and cinnamon synonymous with Mizunara whiskeys.
- Finish: The spirit benefits from an exceptionally long finish of toasted oak and subtle layers of complex, woody spices, with the dark chocolate lingering even longer.
- ABV: 46%.
- Price: $99.99.
For more information on Glendalough Distillery, check out glendaloughdistillery.com.
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