Mars Komagatake 2016 shinshu aging for fine spirits Vol.62% Cl.70

Here is the most special of the limited editions of Mars Komagatake whiskey, the 3355 cask selected exclusively by the Italian importer Fine Spirits.

Hombo Shuzo Ltd is an old Japanese liquor company, founded in 1872.

Traditionally they were producers of "shochu", but in 1985 they built the Shinshu Mars Distillery in Miyata village, to start producing whiskey and brandy.

The whiskey was sold under the Mars Whiskey brand.

Unfortunately the demand wasn't great enough and they stopped producing the whiskey in 1992.

Then, in February of 2011, whiskey production was restarted at the Shinshu Mars distillery.

On August 6, 2014, Hombo Shuzo finally released the first whiskey produced since the reboot, the 2011 Komagatake Mars Whiskey The Revival.

Following the success of the first Mars Komagatake series, a new limited edition is selected every year.

Here we have a special edition of Mars Komagatake Shinshu aging, produced from cask number 3355 selected for the Italian importer Fine Spirits.

This is a single cask whiskey distilled in 2016 and bottled in 2022, aged for seven years, matured exclusively in a single First Fill ex bourbon cask.

The Mars Komagatake 2016 Shinshu Aging is lightly peated, at 8ppm at the phenol level.

Only 190 bottles of Mars Whiskey The Revival Komagatake 2016 Shinshu Aging were released, all at full proof 62, unusual for this Japanese distillery.

The limited availability and high quality of Komagatake 2016 Shinshu Aging for Fine Spirits make this Japanese whiskey highly sought after by collectors around the world.

Tasting Notes:

Scents: vanilla, delicate caramel, some oak and spices. Mars Whiskey The Revival Komagatake 2016 Shinshu Aging Looks a bit young, but not young enough to detract from anything.

It's a pleasant nose, quite fresh. With water it was sweeter and less spicy

Taste: Mars Whiskey Komagatake 2016 Shinshu Aging by Fine Spirits is spicy (black and white pepper), with rich, sweet caramel. With water it becomes more fruity, just like the nose.

Finish: Spicy and sweet. The smoke makes a brief appearance towards the end, but I wouldn't really describe it as a crinkled whisky.