Glendalough 13 Year Old Mizunara Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey (700ml)

One only to sell. Note some bruising and minor damage to the box.

After thirteen years in x bourbon barrels, this Irish gem spent a year in a Mizunara oak puncheon. Sourced from the Ariake cooperage in the Miyazaki prefecture of Hokkaido Island, these barrels are made using indigenous Japanese oak. It's notoriously expensive, difficult to work with and the wood itself is prone to leaking. To top it off, the trees are harvested at around 200 years old (compared to around 75 for American/European oak). The obvious question is "Does Mizunara oak give a distinctive flavour to whisky?" The consensus is that Mizunara matured whiskies tend to offer a more definite coconut aroma. Other sources suggest the wood contributes attractive sandalwood notes. Some bottlings are clearly more successful than others. This one from Glendalough has received high praise from all quarters. Comes non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Ripe pit fruit, especially apricot and peach, Quaker oats, and comb honey aromas are boosted by aromatic fragrances and sandalwood. Cantaloupe, mango, and papaya are followed by chocolate and cocoa, which pair beautifully with the muted citrus. Fragrant spices really add shape and contribute to a sublime balance, with spicy chocolate, coffee grounds, and menthol to finish. A most impressive leap forward in quality and complexity. 46% Alc./Vol.
91 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2018)

"Different & adorable." 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019