Kaiyō Mizunara Oak shines a fossilized amber color with a nice clarity in the glass. The nose is distinct but gentle. Floral, hints of worn leather, and incense. Impressions of a cool breeze through a fruit grove. Sweeter notes of orange roll. The palate takes that aromatic impression further; the first things I taste are peaches and tangerines. Toasted coconut, sea salt, and more tannic notes of oak and acorn follow. That incense note from the nose is a lovely undercurrent, but it is delicate and not overt. The finish surprises — it is chaotic, marvelous, and breathtaking. It is a finish that kicks but diminishes with a very slow burn. It’s the only thing about Kaiyō that I could consider harsh. With a few drops of cool water, the grove fruit pops more and makes the mouth water with its juiciness. Less tannic and much smoother, the mellower oak notes come out in place of the astringency. With water the finish is a bit calmer, like the ocean on a still and sunny day. Still, the slow burn keeps going, wave by wave, finally breaking with a sultry and floral aftertaste. Kaiyō brings me into the new territory of mizunara aged whisky. I’ve really enjoyed this bottle. At the same time, its chaotic finish seems to occur before it’s welcome. That harshness sets in too soon. I don’t know if that’s the whisky or the mizunara aging or some combination of both.