For the foundational release of ‘Case Study’, Frank August hand-selected 5 barrels (less than 1,000 total bottles) to be finished in Mizunara, Japanese Oak. Due to the porous nature of Mizunara, each of the 5 barrels was tested every 30 days to monitor the development of the flavor profile impacted by this rare and beautiful wood. After an undisclosed time, the flavor profile evolved into a beautiful bend of butterscotch and baking spices. At this time, the bourbon whiskey was dumped and batched to preserve the wonderful notes that were created. There’s an immediate warm, smooth, butterscotch profile that hits the front of your tongue, before slowly moving toward the mid-palate, where notes of apple and mild spices begin to pick up. As the whiskey coats the mouth, and moves to the back of your tongue, there are hints of mint and pepper, before notes of butterscotch and caramel make their return.