MARS SHINSHU KOMAGATAKE WHISKY

MARS SHINSHU KOMAGATAKE WHISKYSandwiched between Japans soaring Southern Alps and the towering Central Alps, at just over 2,600 feet, Mars Shinshu is Japans highest whisky distillery. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949. Back then the distillery was located inKagoshima Prefecture on the southern most island of Kyushu. Until 1984, it was the southernmost whisky made in Japan, which ended with the Hombo clan

Sandwiched between Japan’s soaring Southern Alps and the towering Central Alps, at just over 2,600 feet, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949. Back then the distillery was located inKagoshima Prefecture on the southern most island of Kyushu. Until 1984, it was the southernmost whisky made in Japan, which ended with the Hombo clan moving the distillery to the idyllic alpine setting of Miyada village in southern Nagano Prefecture. They chose this site for its cool temps, which slowed maturation, and the plentiful, soft, granite filtered snowmelt fed aquifers. Smart choice. The whiskies are elegant, smooth and very complex. This Single Malt Japanese Whisky, distilled and matured at Mars Shinshu in Nagano, has spent over three years in a combination of American oak and ex-sherry barrels. The nose offers a harmonious blend of prune, honey, and vanilla, setting the stage for a palate that opens with sweet orange notes, gradually developing into rich cocoa powder. The finish is long and gentle, featuring the warmth of chestnuts and the luscious sweetness of ripe persimmon, a testament to the whisky s skillful maturation and the distillery s craft.