Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder's Collection Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Oak
Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder's Collection Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Oak is the 2024 second release of Rabbit Hole's most exclusive line: 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon — barrels selected by founder Kaveh Zamanian from his personal trove — finished more than 11 months in virgin Japanese Mizunara oak casks, bottled at cask strength, 103.8 proof (51.9% ABV), unfiltered, in this 750mL bottle — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
The Mizunara Founder's Collection has seen two releases: 2021 (1,403 bottles at 114.2 proof) and this 2024 release — fewer than 2,200 individually numbered bottles in a gift box with a heavy gold cork, the carton wrapped in the brand's linen pattern. The base spent 15 years in new charred American oak before meeting the Mizunara: virgin Japanese oak casks handcrafted by the family-owned Ariake Sangyo cooperage from 200–500-year-old indigenous Mizunara oak (Quercus mongolica), charred at 3–5mm. The official distillery page headers it "15 YEAR OLD BOURBON | CASK STRENGTH | LIMITED RELEASE."
Tasting notes (official sell sheet): deep mahogany with henna accents; nutmeg, allspice, walnut, leather, mint, honey, wood, and orange on the nose; earthy and confectionery on the palate — tobacco, oak, custard, banana, cinnamon giving way to floral notes, then dark cherry and a lingering chocolate finish.
Why buy the Mizunara Founder's Collection? Because 15-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished in real Japanese Mizunara oak, at cask strength, in a sub-2,200-bottle numbered release, is the kind of bottle that defines a collection. Browse the bourbon whiskey collection, more from the Rabbit Hole brand collection, and other cask-strength whisky releases.
Serving note: neat at cask strength to meet the Mizunara head-on; a few drops of water open the floral and chocolate notes.
Is it really 15 years old? Yes — the official distillery page and sell sheet both state "15-YEAR-OLD Kentucky Straight Bourbon"; the URL handle's "15-year-old" is accurate.
What proof is it? 103.8 proof (51.9% ABV), cask strength, unfiltered, 750mL.
How limited is it? Fewer than 2,200 individually numbered bottles in the 2024 release (the 2021 release was 1,403 bottles).
What is Mizunara oak? Indigenous Japanese oak (Quercus mongolica) from 200–500-year-old trees, handcrafted into casks by the Ariake Sangyo cooperage and charred at 3–5mm.