Mizunara today…

Today, just like Japanese whisky (previously ignored, and now loved and sought after globally) Mizunara oak is extremely well regarded, seen as luxurious and superior. It is one of the rarest and most expensive types of oak in the world. The very best Mizunara comes from the northernmost island of Hokkaido, which is the source of the barrels used in the maturation of AguaDios, and where our cooperage partners reside.

Mizunara is prized, as the use of the oak became the norm for many of Japan’smost luxurious blends and single malt releases. Other Japanese producers, large and small, work with Japanese oak as much as they can, as it’s hard to source, and some distilleries overseas have also tried their hand at maturation with the oak. Still, Japanese Mizunara oak is regarded as precious to the point where, when a tree is harvested, it must first reach the age of around 200 years, then be blessed by the local Prefect and approved by the community before harvest.

Traditionally, Mizunara is not allowed off the island of Japan by government edict as it is considered a precious resource. Thus, any outside producers- those of non-Japanese origin, are normally forbidden from its use. Still, some Westernproducers, having acquired Mizunara barrels from the Black or Grey markets, use it clandestinely.

Unfortunately, some companies use Mizunara because of the high-quality image the name brings to a product, and not because of the flavors, as the longest maturation period of these products is about three years, which is far too short to allow the notes of Japanese oak to be detected.

The flavors you should be looking for from Mizunara are sandalwood, coconut, and a type of oriental incense named Kara. For AguaDios, you will notice these enhancements as finishing notes, after the liquid has passed over your palate, remaining as piquant yet soft as you inhale.

You should also expect Japanese oak-aged releases to cost a bit more, as a Mizunara barrel costs around $7,500 for a 60 gallon variety and is extremely difficult to source even in Japan, yet another reason why AguaDios is blessed to have such relationships as to accord us the privilege of aging our Ultra-rareEnsamble tequila in Japanese Mizunara oak, to us the very finest hardwood on Earth,