The Matsui Mizunara Cask Japanese Whisky

The Matsui is a line of single malts whiskies produced by the Matsui Kurayoshi distillery, first founded in 1910. The distillery has access to fresh spring water from the Tottori prefecture wilderness, which serves as the base for all spirit production. The Matsui Cask is made from unpeated barley malt, matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished with Mizunara oak head. Mizunara oak trees need to be at least 200 years old before they can be made into a cask, so the use of this wood is understandably rare. It imparts lovely flavors of sandalwood and coconut, in addition to the common vanilla flavors imparted by French of American oak barrels.