Glengoyne Unveils Ultra-Rare Highland Single Malt Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak for Limited U.S. Release

The Third Release of the Oak Masters' Series Arrives With Just 150 Bottles Available Nationwide

Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky announces the U.S. release of Glengoyne Mizunara Oak, the third expression in its Oak Masters' Series – a long-term platform dedicated to oak innovation and craftsmanship.

Glengoyne Mizunara Oak builds on the foundation established by White Oak and White Oak 24-Year-Old, further advancing the distillery’s exploration of how rare and distinctive casks shape flavor, structure, and identity within the Oak Masters' Series. An extremely limited release with only 150 bottles coming to the American market with an SRP of $399 USD, this bottle is a whisky lover’s dream.

“This is the kind of whisky that stops you in your tracks. Mizunara oak brings these beautiful layers of sandalwood, soft spice, and incense that wrap perfectly around Glengoyne’s signature orchard fruit and sherry richness. We went to extraordinary lengths to find the right casks because we knew this wood could elevate our spirit in a completely new way,” says Gordon Dundas, Brand Development and Advocacy Director. “After the success of White Oak, Mizunara felt like the bold next chapter – rarer, deeper, more expressive. And like everything we make at Glengoyne, we gave it the time it deserved. When you taste it, you can feel that patience in every sip.”

Bottled at 53.4% ABV, the 16-Year-Old expression begins with 10 years of maturation in first-fill sherry and refill casks, establishing Glengoyne’s hallmark fruit-forward richness. It is then transferred to rare virgin Mizunara oak casks for an additional six years – a significantly longer secondary maturation for this scarce Japanese oak. Such extended aging in Mizunara is almost unheard of, allowing the wood’s distinctive character to integrate with exceptional depth, balance, and precision.

Native to Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Mizunara oak is one of the world’s rarest, and most demanding oak for coopers. Its high moisture content and porous, interlocking grain make it exceptionally difficult to craft into casks. The result is a whisky layered with sandalwood, incense, floral notes, and subtle exotic spice, while maintaining Glengoyne’s signature elegance. This is a deliberate meeting of Scottish patience and Japanese oak tradition.

Prior to its U.S. release, Glengoyne Mizunara Oak earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2025 International Spirits Challenge. It then went on to receive the prestigious Trophy Award at ISC 2025. Out of more than 450 entries, only nine trophy medals were awarded in the category, reinforcing its standing among international critics.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Soft vanilla and sweet toffee laced with sandalwood and hints of Japanese incense.
• Palate: Warming spices, coconut, crisp green apples, and a whisper of licorice.
• Finish: Long, luxurious, and floral; like cherry blossom carried on a spring breeze.

The bottle comes in an elegant gift box, and the packaging pays homage to Japanese aesthetics and Scottish nature with a bespoke Japanese-Sumi-e style illustration evoking the whisky’s influence, featuring a serene sunset, Mizunara Oak Tree, and Glengoyne Geese – the brand’s namesake, which is employed as a symbol of the distillery’s commitment to the environment. For more information, please visit Glengoyne's website and on Instagram @glengoyne.

# # #

ABOUT GLENGOYNE:

Glengoyne has proudly embraced an unhurried approach since 1833. With a commitment to quality and sustainability, Glengoyne runs its spirit through signature slow stills in Scotland. This allows flavors to develop ounce-by-ounce and hour-by-hour, building upon Glengoyne’s belief that good things take time and are worth celebrating. This deliberate process creates a smooth, richly layered, fruit-forward whisky that delivers exceptional quality – even at a young age. Glengoyne is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, one of Scotland’s leading independent family-owned distillers with four generations of expertise in distilling, blending, and bottling.

ABOUT IAN MACLEOD DISTILLERS:

Established in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading independent, family-owned distillers, blenders, and bottlers. With four generations of expertise, the company has built a portfolio of premium spirits, including renowned Scotch whiskies like Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank, and Smokehead, along with the acclaimed Edinburgh Gin. Ian Macleod Distillers ranks among the top 10 Scotch whisky producers globally and is noted for its unwavering commitment to quality, tradition, and innovation. The company’s legacy as one of Scotland’s most respected independent family-owned spirits producers is rooted in its independence, which allows it the freedom to make decisions aligned with its values. This philosophy entails honoring the unhurried practices of the past while also embracing bold, new flavor explorations.