Mars Shinshu Komagatake 2021 Edition / 48% / 0.7l

Shinsu Mars Distillery, producer of Komagatake single malt, is located in the village of Miyada, Nagano Prefecture, in the picturesque Japanese Alps and is Japan's highest distillery. 

Its owner, Hombo Shuzo, has had a distilling license since 1949, but for over 10 years it only dealt with blending. For the next half-century, it produced various types of whisky without any significant success, and in 1992 it focused on producing shōchu. Whisky returned to favor in 2011. The limited edition from 2021 presented here was compiled from distillates aged in bourbon and sherry barrels. The whisky was bottled at 48% abv, without chill filtration. 50,000 bottles went on sale.

Aroma : fruity and slightly spicy, pears, apples, papaya, pineapples, lychee, honey, vanilla, notes of ginger and lemongrass.

Palate: slightly oily, vanilla, brown sugar, pears, oranges, honeydew melon, white pepper, ginger, a handful of fresh herbs and a bit of oak.

Finish: medium long, with notes of citrus, vanilla, honey, pepper, licorice, herbal mix and oak.