Writers' Tears Japanese Cask Mizunara Finish (70cl, 55%)

Writers' Tears Japanese Cask is an Irish whiskey bottled at 55% in a 70cl bottle. It matured first in ex-bourbon casks, then spent a further nine months in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. The Mizunara finish is the point of the bottling: the Irish character stays in front, with the Japanese oak adding accents rather than covering the bourbon-cask base. The nose opens with vanilla and sweet oak, followed by green fruit, coconut, fragrant wood and warm, exotic spices. On the palate it is full and concentrated, with light fruit, creamy sweetness and coconut against spicy oak and sandalwood. The finish is long and warming, with vanilla, spice and lingering Mizunara oak.