Everybody Loves Mizunara

Whiskey distillers are crazy for barrels made from a fragrant, finicky Japanese oak. Here, how to bypass the hype and discover what this wood actually has to offer.

- Megan Krigbaum

NOTORIOUSLY LEAKY and wildly expensive Japanese Mizunara oak barrels have become an object of obsession among makers of Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey and bourbon.

Distillers value the finicky casks for the unmistakable yet delicate flavors they impart-a sandalwood aroma is commonly detected, as are floral and herbal notes. Whiskies aged in them fetch impressive prices, piggybacking on the global success of Japanese whiskies overall: The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States reports that U.S. imports of whiskey from Japan rose nearly 20-fold over the past decade, reaching a value of more than $80 million in 2023.

Truth be told, even the Japanese aren't using all that much Mizunara.