Broken Barrel Mizunara

A little background

Broken Barrel Whiskey created an artisanal whiskey when they blended of American Corn with Japanese Mizunara oak staves. The mashbill consists of 6% Kentucky rye, 86.5% Indiana Corn, and 7.5% Kentucky malted barley. Broken Barrel Mizunara is a blend of 5-year old Kentucky corn whiskey and 4-year-old Indiana corn whiskey. After blending, the whiskey rests with Japanese Mizunara oaks staves. This offering was limited to 6,600 bottles. The MSRP for this whiskey is set at $50 and it is bottled at 100 proof.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Pale Yellow

Nose

The nose is light and slightly smoky. Slight alcohol is accompanied by notes of corn and oak. After some time in the glass, the spirit begins to smell like cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Walnut and toffee notes also shine through.

Palate

The first sip is thin. A small burst of heat initially appears and quickly fades to oak spice and sweet corn. The flavors seem to concentrate on the underside of the tongue. The second sip is effervescent and spicy. Oak, black pepper, and corn continue to coat the palate. The third this is similar to the second sip with the addition of a slight cinnamon note.

Finish

The finish is medium and spicy. The spirit flows the mid-palate and settles in the chest. Oak, cinnamon, corn, and a slight bitterness are present.

In closing

The Broken Barrel Mizunara Whiskey is unique and interesting. This whiskey was uniform throughout the tasting. Oak spice and corn are the dominant notes in this spirit. The Japanese oak adds in interesting characteristic to this take on American Whiskey. This whiskey is not for everyone. If you are a fan of Japanese Whiskey, corn, spice, and oak then this is the bottle for you.