Japanese Whisky Review: Ichiro’s Malt — Pure Malt Whisky — Mizunara Wood Reserve
The MWR is a whisky nerd cult classic.
Ichiro’s Malt — Pure Malt Whisky — Mizunara Wood Reserve / 46%
Tasted neat
The Mizunara Wood Reserve (MWR) is whisky distilled at Chichibu, aged probably in mostly ex-bourbon casks, then vatted and married in Mizunara Japanese oak. It is natural colour and non-chill-filtered. There is no age statement.
- Color: tawny (1.4)
- Nose: sliced pear, peppermint, pine needles, stewed blackberries, hibiscus
- Taste: cinnamon, coca cola, wood spice, hongshaorou (soy-brown-sugar braised pork), christmas spiced wine and ginger
- Finish: brief but vivid
It’s basic but a good introduction to Mizunara, with a lot less subtlety than the finishes on, say, the Chivas Mizunara wood finish 12/18 year old blends. Very much more wood-forward, but not a bottle I would personally keep in stock. But if I get one in a lottery / set deal, I won’t be unhappy to get another one!
Rating: 5/10
