Whiskey Review: Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Finish

This week, we’re diving into a special release from one of our favorite producers—Bardstown Bourbon Company. This bottle is part of their Distillery Reserve Series, and it’s called the Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Finish.

What makes this release special? It’s a blend of four straight whiskeys: two from Kentucky, one from Indiana, and one from Tennessee—the Tennessee whiskey being 18 years old. Altogether, the whiskeys range from 9 to 18 years in age, and the final product is finished for 28 months in Japanese Mizunara Oak barrels. It clocks in at 109.3 proof and is only available at the distillery in 375ml format.

Nose

Bob: I really like this. It’s got some super exotic fruit notes. It’s caramel-heavy, with a lot of maple and brown sugar, but underneath it all, I’m getting toasted coconut and almond—reminds me of a German almond cake. Really nice. 8.5/10

Brad: Man, the nose is absolutely delicious. I get cinnamon, almonds, a simple syrup vibe, and a little bit of honeysuckle with citrus at the end. I’m really enjoying this one. 8.5/10

Taste

Bob: There’s some great dusty oak right away. Then it gets bright with lemon, followed by a well-rounded Werther’s Original-style caramel. Not much coconut here, but there’s still a strong floral note. It’s complex. 8.5/10

Brad: This almost tastes like an Almond Joy bar. There’s citrus, it stays floral, and I pick up brown sugar layered over caramel and vanilla. Just a spectacular pour. 9/10

Finish

Bob: The finish is long and satisfying—great oak, a bit of barrel char, and I get a dark stone fruit vibe, like plum or prune. It’s super layered and wine-cask-like. 8.5/10

Brad: This keeps things going strong. Caramel, almond, brown sugar, and it settles into a milk chocolatey realm that I’m a big fan of. 9/10

Balance

Bob: I’m going to give it a 9. It’s hard to be this complex and maintain consistency across the board, and this one does that really well. 9/10

Brad: It’s a 9.5/10 for me. It’s complex but still feels like a really great bourbon underneath it all. Big fan.

Value

Bob: It’s $99.99 for a 375ml, which is effectively $200 for a full-size bottle. That’s a lot. It’s not quite on the level of their Cathedral French Oak, but it’s a great whiskey. Beautiful packaging too—nice coin on the top, beautiful bottle. That adds some value. 7/10

Brad: Yeah, call it a $200 value. Still, I think it’s worth it. You’re getting something delicious, unique, and complex. 8/10

Final Scores

Bob: My final score is 41.5/50. Total no-brainer recommendation—absolutely worth trying if you get the chance.

Brad: I’m at 44/50. This is another winner from Bardstown. It’s rich, flavorful, and the Mizunara finish really works.

Conclusion

With a combined average of 42.75/50, the Bardstown Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Finish is a confident recommendation. At Film & Whiskey, we start giving the thumbs-up around 35/50. This bottle is layered, balanced, and one of the more unique finishes we’ve had in a while. If you’re near the Bardstown gift shop, don’t miss your shot.