Why Sakhrani Mizunara Cask Finish Whisky Deserves a Spot in Your Collection (Review)

What happens when you start producing whisky in Japan in a place where people generally live longer than average? Perhaps you end up with actual 'water of life'. Discover the taste of the latest Japanese whisky in the Sakhrani Mizunara Cask Finish Whisky Review.

The world has not long since seen the birth of a brand new whisky maker. Sakhrani Distillery is managed by two women. Combined, they boast over 70 years of experience in producing Awamori, a traditional Japanese rice distilled spirit from Okinawa. More recently they've branched out into whisky production, and they are doing something beautiful with it.

Located in Okinawa’s renowned Blue Zone, Sakhrani Distillery was founded by Sabrina Sakhrani and Ayako Ikehara with a shared vision to craft whisky that reflects the spirit of the island - longevity, purity, and quiet strength. Their female-led distillery produces whisky using an exclusive spring water source, drawn from deep within a protected World Heritage forest, Yanbaru.

The distillery also uses various types of wood to give its whisky a unique twist. The divine beverage first matures in oak barrels before going on to further age in a beloved Japanese barrel: Mizunara

The Sakhrani whisky is bottled in an impactful presentation. The ruffled bottle looks luxurious and boasts an attractive label. On the label are the tasting notes of the whisky, the percentage of alcohol, and more information about the whisky in the bottle.

The short neck also carries a small label bearing the distillery's logo, and the bottle is sealed with a handsome glass stopper.

Looking at the overall package, you might suspect the price tag to be well above 100 euros, but that's not the case. For about 90 euros, you can bring home this bottle. But how does the whisky taste?

The Japanese whisky introduces itself to the nose with a mix of baking spices, cedar, incense, and warm toasted bread. After awhile, slow wafts of aromas resembling soft cinnamon rolls from the bakery begin to emerge.

It's a sweet and spicy affair made even more intriguing with a hint of coconut. With ease, you could keep nosing this whisky, constantly charmed by a different scent association. But eventually you have to take a sip.

The taste first introduces a gentle wood flavor which is complemented by spices, vanilla pods, some ginger, and sweet sun-dried candy raisins. It's a beautiful twist on the flavor of the average Mizunara whiskies, making this a distinctive and interesting whisky.

It's a deliciously balanced mix that rolls across your tongue with a nice, oily mouthfeel. As the finish draws nearer, the whisky becomes sweeter with stronger vanilla notes, cedar, spicy elements like nutmeg, and honey liquorice.

The whisky doesn't have much of a tingle on the tongue, but with every sip it's soft and creamy due to its 47 percent alcohol content. This is unique because most Japanese whiskies do not have this level of alcohol. They usually have a lower ABV.

With the Mizunara Japanese Oak Finish whisky, Sakhrani distillery has produced a fine and well-balanced Japanese whisky. The whisky does something surprising with the flavor that starts with wood and ends with a sweet medley of licorice, wood and vanilla.

For budding whisky enthusiasts, this is a whisky feast, while seasoned drinkers get a beautiful, elegant and complex dram at a small price.

+ Excels with a unique profile

+ Relatively affordable

+ Smooth and pleasantly creamy on the palate

- No age mentioned to gauge the age of the spirits

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