Kaiyō Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask Strength

The Kaiyo Japanese Mizunara Oak was a bottle I reviewed a few months back and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had tropical fruits and cinnamon sweetness in spades and was well presented at 46% ABV. I picked it up for just under $55 and even though it’s NAS- it was really, really good. Well, this is it’s hot-headed brother- same whisky, just bottled at near cask strength of 53% ABV. It’s not that much hotter, but it did add $30 to the price point. This whisky is non-chill filtered, but does have added coloring that makes it appear as new gold with copper highlights. It’s rather oily, with huge droplets and fast forming legs in your tasting glass. The nose begins with freshly crushed, cinnamon sticks and less citrusy, tropical fruits: think papaya and mango, instead of oranges and lemon. There’s some faint pineapple in there, too. There’s a nutty quality at play and a heavy sense of the ABV heat. The palate delivers on the tropical flavors, again before the harsher notes of youthful spirit barge in and take over. Red Hots candies supply the cinnamon and crazy good, sugary sweetness at the midpoint. The healthy dose of lingering heat is supplied by the extra ABV and it ultimately leads to a drier than anticipated mouthfeel. The finish is lingering heat and cinnamon candy with oak barrel astringency. It finishes very dry. Overall, I love the balance between tropical and cinnamon notes, but I think the regular version does a better job at presenting this in the perfect light. The Mizunara casks add a depth of flavor, but either the whisky is just too young to allow those flavors to shine or it’s just a little too strong. This was still a very enjoyable bottle, worthy of 3.5+ stars, but the dilution to 46% puts it closer to a beautiful, NAS offering. Not to mention you can save yourself $25-30. As this is presented, I’d give it 3.75 stars. Cheers.

very strong flavor. great with strong flavors.

I feel as if this one is the Arya Stark of the whiskey world. You don’t expect much from it...but delivers in spades. Well, let’s see...I can easily picture Macallan as the Night King. Walking tall, like he’s god gift to mankind. Strutting around like he’s all that and a bag of chips. Sansa is like Glenfiddich. We’ve all heard of her. She’s amazing to look at in those posters hanging around the NYC Subway. She’s plastered everywhere in magazines. But, when it comes time to test what you’re made of, she’s probably in the cellar hiding out, waiting till the coast clears. Highland Park...that’s gotta be Euron Greyjoy. Arrogant. Putting on a show like he’s some Norse-god Thor like conquering Viking. But, let’s face it...he just wants to be with a demented murderous sexy sherry cask named Cersei. So...back to this Arya. This one is an underrated and understated Japanese malt, lost between the hype of Yamazaki and Hibiki. It’s potent, but beautiful in every sense of the word. Floral nose, but not too much...just enough oak in there to let you know there’s a bit of oomph. Taste of sandalwood (ther’es the mizunara ), dark cherries. Finish is hot. Lingers for a while. If only that finish were a bit smoother. Probably needs a few more years in the barrel. Nonetheless, a really good true Japanese malt (not like those made in UK, US, and CA, only to be aged in Japan). Thanks to my buddy @LeeEvolved for a generous pour.

One of the smoothest cask strength whiskies iv tasted - extremely unique profile. Unpeated, short finish. I’ll get back to this