A tribute to the artistry and innovation that define the whisky maker, this expression celebrates Mizunara Japanese Oak and the spirit of Yamazaki.

Bottled at 96 proof, Yamazaki 25 Years Old Mizunara is a single malt aged exclusively in Mizunara oak casks. While previous expressions, such as Yamazaki 55 Years Old, featured partial Mizunara maturation, this release marks the oldest expression to be aged 100% in Mizunara casks from Yamazaki.

To honor the rarity of this wood, the bottle is encased in a handcrafted box, assembled using a traditional Japanese nail-free “locking” method.

Yamazaki 25 Years Old Mizunara is available for $7,500.

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A limited release on strict allocation, it is a blend of rare bourbons, each aged for a minimum of 20 years. Head Distiller and Blender Sienna Jevremov tasted through more than 100 individual barrels, a multi-week process that yielded an initial sketch of what would become Black Opal. The barrels selected were blended and then the whiskey went through an extended finish in Mizunara oak. Like all Widow Jane whiskeys, Black Opal is proofed with limestone water from New York’s legendary Rosendale Mines resulting in a 99 proof spirit. This mineral-rich, yet sweet water delivers a full, round, lavish mouthfeel and long finish.

“The 20-year-old whiskey found in this project is like a hefty tome of an epic tale, at first it is daunting in its immensity but the rich characters and surprising unseen twists pull you in,” said Widow Jane Distillery Head Distiller and Blender Sienna Jevremov. “I chose one thread I found alluring and followed it to a whiskey that toys with bourbon’s sweetness, baking spice, and stone fruit. It has complex flavors of burnt sugar, smokey incense, herbal teas, and salted fruit. The Mizunara finish was a clear choice to achieve another layer that beautifully binds it all together. I advise you to take your time with each drop.”

Inspired by Widow Jane’s roots in Brooklyn’s industrial Red Hook, Black Opal is encased in a black steel box that features metal stamped branding and rivets that recall the neighborhood’s shipping and warehouse history. The bottle includes details like an internal jeweled texture that is revealed as the whiskey is consumed. Every bottle also comes with a limited edition, numbered fine art print featuring one of seven ‘insider’ views of Widow Jane Distillery.

A limited allocation of 5,000 bottles of Widow Jane Black Opal are available for $500.

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A search for the most flavorful oak in the world took them from Wicklow, Ireland to the volcanic north of Japan. This is where they found Mizunara, the most sought-after oak in the whiskey world. As the first Irish whiskey brand to use Mizunara, Glendalough had very much ventured into the unknown.

Mizunara’s rarity makes sourcing a great undertaking, but Glendalough was ready for the challenge of being the first Irish whiskey to utilize this oak. The trunks of these trees are prone to growing twisted, and they must grow to be twice the age of most oak trees before they can be felled. It then takes three years to dry, and even then, is difficult to cooper due to its porousness. However, therein lies its saving grace: whiskey can seep deeper into the wood, resulting in an alluring, exotic flavor.

“Every whiskey has a story, this one has an epic adventure, worthy of being told over a glass. This whiskey came from a relentless search for the best oak on earth,” said Gary McLoughlin, Founder & Marketing Director of Glendalough Distillery. “By ‘best’ I suppose we mean most flavorful. What started in the wooded mountains around our distillery eventually led us to the snowy north of Japan, where we somehow managed to get our hands on Mizunara. As the first Irish distillery ever to use this almost mythical species of oak we had really ventured into the unknown.”

On each bottle, you will see a little red thread – the Japanese call it the “red thread of fate.” This represents a connection between Wicklow and Hokkaido and the fateful union of Irish malt and Japan’s flavorful oak.

Glendalough 7-Year-Old Single Malt Mizunara Finish is available now for $99.99.

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The limited-edition expression is a blend of four-year-old and nine-year-old Angel’s Envy Bourbon that is finished in hand-selected, charred, new Japanese Mizunara oak casks for an additional two years. This release is the first in Angel’s Envy’s Founder’s Collection, which exclusively includes releases commemorating brand anniversaries, special events and milestones.

“Ten years ago today, my dad Lincoln and I filled our first port barrels with the bourbon that would eventually become Angel’s Envy. In celebration, we wanted to release something special to honor my dad’s incredible legacy, how far Angel’s Envy has come and our exciting future ahead,” said Wes Henderson, Angel’s Envy Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer. “We chose this release for the tenth anniversary because my dad, having taken on several consulting roles in Japan during his career, always had a deep appreciation for the country and its distilling community. This release, finished in Mizunara casks made from this rare, 200-year-old wood, felt fitting for such a special milestone for Angel’s Envy.”

Angel’s Envy 500 Main members can purchase a bottle ahead of the general public for pickup at the Louisville distillery. Following the presale, the limited run of just 1,200 bottles will be available for purchase beginning on September 1st at Angel’s Envy’s distillery in downtown Louisville and select retailers in Kentucky. There will be a one-bottle limit per customer.

Once this rare release is enjoyed, the empty bottle – crafted from premium, lead-free crystal – is meant to be stripped of labels and reused as a decanter.

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks retails for $349.99.

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