Rabbit Hole Distillery today announced the second release of Mizunara, a 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in the world’s most elusive barrels crafted from Japanese Mizunara Oak. Mizunara is the latest addition to the brand’s Founder’s Collection.

Mizunara Oak – the white oak that grows on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan – has a long and storied history. “Mizu” translates to water while “nara” translates to oak. It takes between 200 and 500 years for this elusive tree to reach maturity and only then can the most skilled master coopers turn this porous and delicate wood into barrels fit for aging fine whiskey.

For this limited release, Rabbit Hole Distillery Founder and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Whiskey Maker Kaveh Zamanian selected a handful of 15-year-old whiskey barrels from his own personal collection and finished them in these special Japanese Mizunara Oak barrels, revealing a remarkable, one-of-a-kind whiskey.

Rabbit Hole’s Founder’s Collection is a platform under which Zamanian and team develop unique expressions that showcase his creativity and commitment to the artistry of whiskey making. Released bi-annually, each limited-edition, cask-strength offering stands as a testament to Rabbit Hole Distillery’s ethos: “No Shortcuts. No Compromise. Nothing Left To Chance.”

“For years, I’ve been fascinated by the terroir and traditions of fine whiskey making,” Zamanian said in a news release. “When I finally got my hands on a handful of elusive casks from a small family-owned cooperage in Japan, I knew I wanted to create something special to honor the mystique and beauty of Hokkaido’s oak trees.

“When crafting Mizunara, I chose barrels from my personal collection of Kentucky straight bourbon – each aged to perfection for 15 years – and finished them in casks made of the finest Japanese Mizunara Oak for more than 11 months.”

The limited-edition bottle and box – individually numbered for authenticity – are works of art themselves. The bottle features an impressive heavy gold cork, while the linen-patterned gift box is designed to display the deep mahogany liquid in its full grandeur.

Mizunara was first released in 2021. Today, only 2,200 bottles of Mizunara are available for purchase at Rabbit Hole Distillery and in select markets nationwide. A limited quantity of bottles is also available for purchase online through Rabbit Hole Distillery’s website, www.rabbitholedistillery.com.

The 750 mL bottle has a suggested retail price of $1,500.00 and is 51.9% ABV (103.8 proof). Must be 21 or older to purchase.