For the past eighteen months, we've been proud to offer Japanese Mizunara oak chips to distillers across the U.S. Our goal has always been to establish a consistent supply of Mizunara barrels and other forms of this unique wood. However, our Japanese supplier has faced challenges in keeping up with demand in Japan, making it difficult to expand our offerings.
Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula) is indeed rare in Japan, but the same species grows abundantly in Korea and China. With this in mind, we sought out a new cooperage in China. This supplier is now crafting barrels from both Japanese Mizunara (wood brought from Japan to China) and Mongolian Oak—Quercus crispula harvested in China. While these woods come from the same species, they have distinct appearances.
We’re thrilled about the first shipment of barrels from our new supplier, expected to arrive by the end of September. These 13.5L barrels are custom-made for us and ideal for smaller distillers. We’re also excited about the new cubes and balls, which will allow for more precise flavor control.
One final intriguing insight from the cooperage: While it’s apparent that a tree with curvy branches won’t yield much straight wood for staves, what’s less obvious is the unpredictability of the wood’s internal grain. If the grain isn’t consistent across the entire stave, the barrel is prone to leaking. In the early days of Mizunara barrel-making, cooperages had to seal these leaks with resins. However, as craftsmen honed their skills and learned to work with the wood’s natural grain, they mastered the art of creating watertight barrels without the need for sealants. Our barrels are crafted without any added sealants or treatments, aside from a heavy medium toast. For large orders, we can customize the barrels with your preferred level of roasting or charring.
