Maison Courvoisier Announces Second Edition of Courvoisier® Mizunara
Maison Courvoisier Announces Second Edition of Courvoisier® Mizunara
The Most Awarded Cognac House* reveals its 2023 Courvoisier Mizunara, the second edition of a rare and exquisite cognac crafted in collaboration with Japan’s iconic House of Suntory and finished in precious Mizunara oak casks
JARNAC, FRANCE – August 1, 2023 - Maison Courvoisier, the Most Awarded Cognac House*, announces the second edition of Courvoisier Mizunara, a rare and wholly unique blend combining French tradition and Japanese craftsmanship to create a style of cognac unlike any other.
Following the success of the inaugural edition of Courvoisier Mizunara, Maison Courvoisier’s Seventh Chief Blender Thibaut Hontanx has carried the revolutionary collaboration into its second edition alongside the House of Suntory’s Fifth Generation Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo. Drawing on their collective expertise in the art of blending, Hontanx and Fukuyo have shared the traditions of their crafts to create the second edition of a unique and rare cognac that embodies the belief that truly visionary blends are born when the best of two cultures come together as one.
The 2023 Courvoisier Mizunara edition is an evolution of Maison Courvoisier's most precious and exclusive blend to date, a pinnacle in its ongoing dedication to crafting premium cognac. This year’s Courvoisier Mizunara blend showcases an even more pronounced overture of the Mizunara wood than its predecessor, yet its heart and soul of Cognac remain unmistakably intact. Each blend within this extremely limited experimental series is entirely unique and features only the most exquisite eaux-de-vie of the house from the region’s top crus—Grande Champagne, considered to be the most prestigious of the Cognac region, meticulously blended with Petite Champagne and Borderies for added complexity, depth, and a long finish.
Courvoisier Mizunara begins its journey aging in casks hewn from the region’s finest oak before being transferred to rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks, which Suntory has spent multiple decades studying and mastering. This particular wood is famously difficult to work with as the tree itself grows sideways and gnarled. The high moisture content requires the wood to be over 200 years old before it can be tamed into a cask, which requires the utmost time and care.
"As we continue to explore the possibilities of oak, we've learned that time is crucial when working with Mizunara oak. It's important to be patient to achieve its full potential," says Hontanx, echoing one of the Maison's core philosophies—one of many shared by both houses. "Born out of our desire to experiment with oak sources and harness its impact on Cognac, the 2023 edition of Courvoisier Mizunara pushes the boundaries of traditional cognac even further," he continued.
This year’s Courvoisier Mizunara blend features a distinctive harmony of exotic fruits, jasmine and cherry blossom beautifully juxtaposed with the house’s signature notes of rich fruits, layered with an elegant floral finish. The understated elegance of the bottle allows the golden mahogany of the liquid to shine through, providing a canvas for the legendary Japanese Mizunara oak tree. Given the unprecedented rarity of Mizunara casks and the Master Blenders’ meticulous attention to detail, an extremely limited release of only 500 bottles of Courvoisier Mizunara will be available in select countries at a suggested retail price of $2,500 USD from August 2024. For more information, please visit https://www.courvoisier.com/.
*Based on 20 top spirits competitions since 2019.
ENDS
About Courvoisier Cognac
Maison Courvoisier was founded by Félix Courvoisier in 1828 in Jarnac, France. Courvoisier is the Most Awarded Cognac House* with a range of expressions that appeal to a variety of cognac preferences and lifestyles, including VS, VSOP, XO, and the ultimate expression of the House, L'Essence de Courvoisier. Based on the joyful, generous, and sophisticated house style and commitment to community and craftsmanship, Courvoisier continues to value its relationships with local artisans and winegrowers to produce its high-quality, award-winning cognac portfolio. For more information on Courvoisier, please visit https://www.courvoisier.com/.
*Based on 20 top spirits competitions since 2019.
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki®; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory’s core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to inform consumers as they make choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/ and https://www.drinksmart.com/.
Courvoisier® Cognac, 40% alc./vol. Courvoisier Import Company, Chicago, IL USA, Courvoisier is a trademark of Courvoisier S.A.S. ©2023 Courvoisier S.A.S.
https://www.courvoisier.com/awards
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