“Scotland Meets Japan”
Brand: Chivas Regal Mizunara (Special Edition)
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%
Chill-Filtration: Yes
Whisky Review # 577
Buying Advice: 😕 At 30 US Dollars you might give it a try.
Colour: Amber (Artificially Coloured)
Nose: The Mizunara tones are quite
clear, even slightly dominant. The Grain Alcohol is there as well and the two
of them are the main drivers on the Nose. It's all a bit Thin and the ABV of
40% is most certainly inadequate. In addition to the Wood and Alcohol, I find
Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Toffee, Straw, Grass, Pizza Dough, light Vanilla,
Nuts, Dried Apricot, Nectarine, Pear, Banana, Fresh Herbs, Citrus Peel, light
Honey and traces of Black Tea and Tobacco.
Taste: The delivery is quite Thin and the Wood is pretty dominant again. The
Fruity tones are merely noticeable in the background. I find Toasted Cereals,
Grain Alcohol, light Vanilla, Banana, Pear Drops, Salted Nuts, Dried Apricot,
Orange Peel, light Honey, Straw, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove, Herbal Tea
and Licorice.
Finish: Middle-Long, slightly Tannic and
mainly Sweet. There's a light Bitterness towards the end that reminds me of
Black Tea and Salted Licorice. I also find Toasted Cereals, Grain Alcohol,
Sugar, Caramel, Toffee, Oak, Nut Shells, light Peanut Butter, Banana, light
Vanilla, Pepper, Clove, Ginger and Aniseed. It's the weakest part of this
Blend.
With added Water the Alcohol subsides
and the Nose becomes quite Floral. The Mizunara Wood remains present. Palate
and Finish become too Thin however.
Rating: 73
Nose: 20 - Taste: 18 – Finish: 17 -
Overall: 18
General Remarks: The Chivas Regal
Mizunara was launched in October 2014. A trip to Japan inspired Chivas Master
Distiller Colin Scott to create a Blend using 12 Year Old Scottish Grain - and
Malt Whiskies partly finished in Casks made from Mizunara (Japanese Oak) wood.
Quite unique I would say. It was intended for the Japanese market but in the
meantime some bottles are available outside Japan as well. The main malts used
in this Blend are Strathisla and Longmorn. The price of the Mizunara may vary
considerably depending on where you live. I have noticed prices between 30 and
70 US Dollars (November 2016).
Drinking Experience Neat : Okay/Average
Conclusion: It's basically a standard 12
Years with Mizunara finish. This wood gives an additional Aroma/Flavour to the
Blend but it also tends to dominate the other Flavours and Aromas, especially
the Fruity ones, leaving the Blend rather off-balance. And that's a pity. I
liked the experiment but I don't see this being continued in the long run. I
think that a solid, powerful Single Malt could benefit from a Mizunara Finish
but this Wood is too dominant for your average Grain Alcohol. The idea was
interesting but in my opinion it didn't quite work out well enough.
Jan van den Ende
November
28, 2016
