Kavalan Partners with Takahide Komatsu for Limited Mizunara Oak Whisky

Japanese Artist Collaboration! Taiwan's Premium Mizunara Oak Whisky Makes Limited Debut

Renowned Taiwanese whisky distillery Kavalan has officially announced the launch of its brand-new limited-edition Mizunara Oak series single malt whisky. This special series invites contemporary Japanese artist Takahide Komatsu to create exclusive artwork for the bottle labels. Inspired by twelve native Taiwanese butterfly species, the artist delicately and vividly captures the elegant postures and vibrant vitality of fluttering butterflies, deeply showcasing Taiwan's rich natural ecosystem and biodiversity. In addition to individual bottles, the distillery is also releasing a highly collectible limited hand-painted dual-bottle set, with each label personally signed and hand-painted by Takahide Komatsu.

Mizunara Oak grows in the cool forests of northern Japan, typically requiring over a century to mature before being crafted into casks. Due to its porous grain structure, barrel-making is exceptionally challenging, making Mizunara casks particularly rare in the whisky world. This series encompasses two single malt whiskies bottled at cask strengths ranging from 50% to 59.9%, meticulously distilled and aged using unpeated and peated malts respectively, offering two unique interpretations of Mizunara cask maturation.

Subtropical Climate Blends with Mizunara Oak: Dual Unpeated and Peated Expressions

Matured in Taiwan's warm and humid subtropical climate, Kavalan's signature tropical fruit notes blend seamlessly with Japanese Mizunara oak, giving rise to elegant aromas of sandalwood, agarwood, and coconut. The unpeated Kavalan Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky exudes aromas of vanilla, coconut, ripe pineapple, mango, honey, and cinnamon, delivering a palate of smooth oak, hawthorn, dark chocolate, and citrus peel. Meanwhile, the peated Kavalan Peated Malt Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky marries gentle peat smoke, sandalwood, dried longan, and tropical fruit notes, with a palate featuring oriental oak, light spice, peach, propolis, and smooth cream.

Kavalan parent company King Car Group Chairman YT Lee noted that whisky distilling and artistic creation both demand craftsmanship, with Mizunara casks exhibiting extraordinary character in Taiwan's unique environment while celebrating natural beauty through butterfly art. Furthermore, Kavalan won the prestigious World Whisky of the Year award at the 2026 International Whisky Competition (IWC) last month for its Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, once again cementing the distillery's internationally acclaimed winemaking prowess and exceptional standards.

📅 Publish Date: 2026-08-13

🔗 Source: https://thewhiskywire.com/2026/08/13/kavalan-launches-new-mizunara-oak-collection/