MIZUNARA COGNAC
A daring collaboration
Meticulous wood selection has long been a hallmark of Maison Courvoisier, with French oak a constant presence in the house’s exceptional blends. Coined as the house’s ‘most daring and visionary blend’, Mizunara notably combines the know-how of Maison Courvoisier’s sixth-generation Master Blender Patrice Pinet and House of Suntory fifth-generation Master Blender Shinji Fukuyo. Only 500 bottles of Mizunara are available globally.
To create Mizunara, the two masters found common ground through the oak selection and ageing processes shared by both Cognac and Japanese whisky. The masters, though coming from different backgrounds, drew from their collective expertise in the art of blending to create Mizunara.
Mizunara is matured in a cask made from rare Japanese Mizunara oak tree. The cask is filled with Grand Champagne, made from some of the best crus in Cognac which were selected for their long-ageing potential.
Pinet has always been intrigued by the rarity of Japanese Mizunara oak and pondered whether it would be possible to create a Courvoisier blend using casks made from the famously temperamental wood. Mizunara oak grows sideways, has a high moisture content and needs to be over 200 years old before it can be made into a cask. Pinet believed that Mizunara oak would be the perfect home to age Courvoisier’s signature ‘Cognac in Blossom’ style, but knew that he would need help from a collaborator who shared the same vision.
Fukuyo, who is well-versed in Mizunara oak after using it to age House of Suntory’s fine Japanese whisky, was the collaborator that Pinet was searching for. Commenting on his synergy with Fukuyo, Pinet says: “We are living in seemingly different countries with different cultures, but one world, deeply connected in values and respect for artistry.”
Together, the two masters discovered that the tight grain of Mizunara oak — and its exceptional ability to enrich the aromatic profile of Cognacs — could create an exciting new blend. The Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, distilled with lees to ensure complexity and a long finish, enhances the Cognac’s flavours as Mizunara oak slowly releases aromatic compounds into the liquid.
The final blend combines the oak’s sweet and spicy notes with exotic fruit aromas, perfectly complimenting the floral notes and flavours that Courvoisier is known for.
The Mizunara bottle features a striking screen printed etching of the Mizunara oak tree, that contrasts with the vibrancy of the golden mahogany liquid. The bottle cap is decorated with a red ribbon label, while the bottle neck is embellished in gold. The signatures of the two Master Blenders can be found at the bottom of the bottle, which is housed in a striking, numbered wooden box.
Mizunara is the first release from Maison Courvoisier that represents its commitment to pushing craft of Cognac to new heights. A fusion of two cultures, Mizunara is a rare and distinctive Cognac that embodies both houses’ belief that visionary blends come from collaborations of craft, culture and people.
Tasting Notes
On the nose: Mizunara opens with aromas of sandalwood before revealing sweet spices from the Mizunara cask. This progresses to tropical fruits, orange peel, exotic flowers and jasmine, before deepening into rich notes of roasted cocoa beans, dried fruits, leather and tobacco.
On the palate: The golden mahogany liquid delivers rich and mellow flavours of fruit cake, vanilla, roasted cocoa with hints of spice. The smooth Cognac has a long-lasting finish with melted tannins and lingering sweetness.
Spotlight Series - January 2023