Frank August Case Study 01: Mizunara Japanese Oak Bourbon

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Mizunara Oak
Distillery: Sourced from an non-disclosed distillery in Kentucky
Mashbill: Non-disclosed
Age: NAS but 7+ Years
Proof: 114.4

The foundationsl release in Frank August’s Case Study series, Case Study: 01 walks in dressed like a professor who vacations in Kyoto and secretly drinks bourbon neat in his office. You nose it and you’re hit with baking spices, sandalwood, and a polite little pear waving from the corner. It’s warm, approachable, and oddly charismatic, like your friend’s dad who owns too many cardigans but tells a great story.

Then the palate hits and suddenly you’re in an oak-paneled library where someone spilled butterscotch on a leather-bound book. There’s caramel, nutmeg, toffee, even a cigar box tucked in there somewhere. It’s like bourbon playing dress-up—and pulling it off. Balanced, rich, and layered, but without shouting about it. A real gentleman.

The finish strolls out with allspice and tobacco, tossing you a caramel chew like it’s saying, “Thanks for the company.” It lingers just long enough to be memorable but not so long it gets awkward.

Mizunara influence? It’s there, whispering in the background like a Japanese haiku—soft, toasty, elegant. Not showy, just cool.

Final thoughts: Complex without being complicated. Refined without being pretentious. Basically, if bourbon went to grad school but still knew how to have a good time.