The Taiwan based Kavalan Distillery has announced the launch of its latest limited-edition Mizunara Oak collection, produced in collaboration with Japanese contemporary artist Takahide Komatsu.

The collection comprises two single cask strength expressions: one produced from unpeated malt and the other from peated malt, offering two distinctive interpretations of Mizunara maturation.

Each bottle features specially commissioned artwork by Takahide Komatsu depicting twelve butterfly species native to Taiwan. The artwork reflects Taiwan’s extraordinary biodiversity while capturing the grace and vitality of butterflies in flight.

Mizunara oak grows in the cool forests of northern Japan and often requires more than a century to mature before it can be crafted into casks. Its porous grain structure makes coopering extremely difficult, contributing to the rarity of Mizunara casks.

When Kavalan new make spirit matures in Mizunara oak in Taiwan’s warm and humid climate, the whisky gradually develops notes of sandalwood, incense and coconut alongside the distillery’s characteristic tropical fruit aromas. This interaction between Japanese oak and Taiwan’s subtropical ageing conditions creates a whisky shaped by two distinct environments.

Kavalan Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, is said to deliver notes of vanilla, fresh coconut, sandalwood, light incense, ripe pineapple, mango, honey and cinnamon on the nose, followed by notes of creamy, soft oak, hawthorn, dark chocolate, caramel and citrus peel on the palate.

Kavalan Peated Malt Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, is said to offer notes of gentle peat smoke, sandalwood, vanilla, dried longan and caramel alongside tropical fruits on the nose, followed by notes of soft peat, oriental oak, light spice, peach, propolis and cream on the palate.

The latest releases will be available individually or as part of a limited hand-painted collector’s double set, featuring labels individually hand-painted and signed by Takahide Komatsu.

Commenting on the launch, YT Lee, Chairman of King Car Group, Kavalan’s parent company, said: “At Kavalan, we believe whisky making shares a natural connection with artistic creation. Mizunara oak is one of the rarest and most demanding casks in whisky making. Its rarity lies not only in the exceptional skill required to craft each cask, but also in the time it takes for the trees to mature. In Kavalan’s subtropical climate, Mizunara oak develops a character shaped by Taiwan’s unique maturation conditions. Through Takahide Komatsu’s butterfly artwork, this release also celebrates the richness of Taiwan’s natural world.”

Last month, Kavalan Distillery was awarded the Whisky of the Year title at the 2026 International Whisky Competition (IWC) for its Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky.

The latest Kavalan Mizunara Oak collection will be available later this month directly from the distillery and selected specialist retailers. RRP’s (tbc).