Most releases from Mars stays in Asia, but now The Whisky Exchange is offering an exclusive single cask. Distilled at Mars’s Komagatake distillery (formerly known as Shinshu), it matured in the ageing cellar on Yakushima island, situated off the south coast of Japan.
Remember Mars mature their whiskies in three locations: Shinshu (at the distillery), Tsunuki and Yakushima (which is typically warmer). The Japanese seem to believe more in the influence of maturation locations than the Scottish. This is the fifth entry in the Sumo series. It highlights tsukidashi, a classic finishing move, thrusting out frontally.
Mars Komagatake 7 yo 2017 (57%, OB ‘Sumo series’ for The Whisky Exchange, bourbon barrel #2001, 168 btl.)
Nose: a typical mix of lemon and lime notes, tarte tatin and fresh barley. Also vanilla and a minty / juniper note (almost medicinal) that I find very Japanese. Then some grassy notes, eucalyptus leaves and a faint hint of basalt rock. A little chalk, Granny Smith apple and whiffs of broken branches as well. It’s properly minimalistic – whisky for a Tadao Ando building.
Mouth: there’s a little pineapple now along with green apples and pears, as well as plenty of yuzu, while also moving towards peppermint and lemon verbena. Then a subtle metallic note comes out, as well as ginger biscuits, slowly gaining some creaminess of vanilla again. Decidedly herbal towards the end. A great mix of freshness and subtle sweetness from the wood again.
Finish: quite long, half herbal, half (green) fruitiness. Mint, camphor and citrus.
A very pure spirit with a true Japanese character, almost millimetric but also showing a nice texture. I like the fact that they chose a regular bourbon cask for this. Quite expensive, but high quality. Now available from The Whisky Exchange.