cask
Mizunara
No legal definition
Japanese oak, Quercus crispula, used for whisky casks since the Second World War: porous, difficult to cooper, prone to leaking, and characteristically contributing sandalwood, incense and coconut-lactone notes over long maturation.
Not a legal term
No whisky regulation in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, the EU or Japan defines this. It is a trade or marketing term, so it is only actionable if its use is actively misleading.
Worth knowing
Mizunara is an oak, so it satisfies the Scotch requirement for oak casks — Scotch matured or finished in mizunara is entirely lawful. Its high lactone content develops slowly, which is why short mizunara finishes rarely resemble long mizunara maturation.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms