Chivas Regal Mizunara Special Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml

Chivas Regal Mizunara is a unique special edition blended Scotch whisky from Chivas Brothers and the first Scotch whisky ever to be selectively finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks, originally launched in October 2014 specifically for the Japanese market and later expanded globally. The Chivas Brothers business traces back to 1801 when James and John Chivas established an upscale grocery business in Aberdeen, Scotland, with the firm receiving a royal warrant from Queen Victoria in 1843 to supply goods to the Crown. Modern Chivas Regal is the bestselling premium aged blended Scotch whisky in the world, owned today by Pernod Ricard. The Mizunara Special Edition was personally created by long serving Custodian Master Blender Colin Scott (whose signature appears on the bottle) following a research trip to Japan that inspired him to bring the Japanese tradition of mizunara oak maturation into the Chivas Regal house style. The blend was composed from a hand selection of malt and grain whiskies all aged at least 12 years, with a portion of the finished blend then selectively finished in casks made from Japanese mizunara oak (Mizunara, literally "water oak," is one of the rarest and most expensive cask types in all of whisky, requiring at least 200 year old trees and producing notoriously porous wood that imparts distinctive spicy, sandalwood, and incense like aromatic character). Bottled at 40% ABV in the iconic Chivas Regal bottle with distinctive Japanese inspired blue and gold accents, this expression has become one of the most celebrated East meets West Scotch releases of the modern era, winning Gold at the International Spirits Challenge in both 2022 and 2023. Note: The current production is managed by Chivas Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, who traveled to a Japanese cooperage to refine the exact mizunara cask specifications for ongoing production.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Warm dark amber with golden mahogany highlights from the extended oak maturation.

Nose: Rich and fruity, with pear, orange, white peach, toffee coated pears, vanilla rich cream, pecans, sandalwood, coriander seed, honeycomb, peanuts, rich oak aromas, smoky oaky notes, fire roasted grains, and the distinctive aromatic floral incense character of Japanese mizunara wood.

Palate: Smooth and rich, with honey sweetness, trace of hazelnut, fabulously developed orange zest, vanilla toffee, ripe pear, cinnamon spice, charred coffee bean, burnt orange, rich caramel, and the impossibly silky mouthfeel that defines the Chivas Regal house style enhanced by the mizunara oak character.

Finish: Distinct and spicy, with dark toffee, tenacious spices, delicate oak, a touch of exotic mizunara sweetness, and a long fade with floral spice and gentle aromatic warmth.

FAQ

What is Mizunara oak? Mizunara (literally "water oak" in Japanese) is one of the rarest and most expensive cask woods in the entire whisky world. The tree grows exclusively in Japan and parts of east Asia, takes at least 200 years to mature to the size required for cooperage, and produces wood that is notoriously porous and difficult to work with (Mizunara casks have a high rate of leaking and require unusually skilled cooperage). The wood is celebrated for imparting distinctive aromatic flavors not found in any other oak type: sandalwood, coconut, incense, oriental spice, and a unique sweet aromatic character that has become deeply associated with premium Japanese whisky. The wood's high porosity also accelerates flavor exchange between spirit and cask, which is why Chivas Mizunara uses a selective finishing approach rather than full maturation.

What does "selectively finished" mean? "Selectively finished" means that only a portion of the finished Chivas Regal blend is transferred into Japanese mizunara oak casks for a secondary finishing maturation period, rather than the entire blend. After the finishing period, the mizunara aged portion is married back with the main Chivas Regal blend to deliver the distinctive mizunara character without overwhelming the underlying Chivas house style. This is a more economical and controlled approach than full mizunara maturation (which would be prohibitively expensive given mizunara cask scarcity) and allows the brand to scale the special edition for global distribution while preserving the rare oak character.

How is this different from regular Chivas Regal 12? The flagship Chivas Regal 12 Year is a blend of malt and grain whiskies aged at least 12 years entirely in traditional Scottish oak casks (mainly ex bourbon barrels), delivering the classic Chivas Regal house style of honey, vanilla, and orchard fruit. Chivas Mizunara takes a similar 12 year minimum aged blend and then selectively finishes a portion in Japanese mizunara oak casks, adding distinctive sandalwood, incense, oriental spice, and aromatic floral character that the standard 12 Year doesn't have. The result is recognizably Chivas but with a distinctly Japanese aromatic finish, making it one of the most unusual East meets West expressions in the Scotch category.

Who is Sandy Hyslop? Sandy Hyslop is the current Master Blender at Chivas Brothers, having taken over the role after the retirement of long serving Custodian Master Blender Colin Scott (whose signature appears on the Chivas Mizunara bottle). Hyslop has personally traveled to Japanese cooperages to refine the exact mizunara cask specifications for ongoing Chivas Mizunara production and oversees the modern Chivas Regal portfolio including the standard core range, Chivas XV, Chivas Extra 13, Chivas Regal 18, and Chivas Regal 25.

Where can I buy Chivas Regal Mizunara online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.