White grape | Pear | Cracked white pepper | Golden raisin

Riesling | Sparkling white grape juice | Dried apricot | Ginger spice

White pepper | Tart green apple | Lingering spice

World Whiskey Society Bourbon Finished in Mizunara Shochu Barrels is a limited edition 1,500 bottle release. To create this whiskey, bourbon sourced from Bardstown Bourbon Company was finished in Japanese Mizunara casks that previously held shochu, a traditional Japanese spirit produced from a wide variety of ingredients, including rice, barley, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, sesame seeds, carrots, and other ingredients with a history dating back to the 16th century. Shochu can be made from many different ingredients, and is alternatively referred to as “white liquor.” Shochu is Japan’s most popular spirit. Mizunara oak finishing is growing in popularity, but any reference to barrels that previously held shochu is virtually nonexistent.

World Whiskey Society Bourbon Finished in Mizunara Shochu Barrels ventures well outside the typical flavor band, even considering the growing finished bourbon landscape. This may sound strange, but it tastes very “white” in the sense of its overall flavor profile. White grape, pear, white pepper, riesling, and sparkling white grape juice are all flavors that conjure up images of white colored food and drink. At the same time, it’s not a light sip, delivering ample flavor at 104 proof. However, the flavor is quite unusual for a whiskey, and as a result, it will be polarizing among drinkers.

World Whiskey Society also produced a 6 year old version of this whiskey with a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, which is referred to interchangeably on the World Whiskey Company website.

The bourbon in review is bottle number 1,383 of 1,500.