MARS - Tsunuki - 7 years - 2017 - Uwate Nage - Komagatake Aging - Bourbon Barrel - Itineraries - 59.80%
Mars Tsunuki 7 Year Old 2017 – Uwate Nage – Komagatake Aging, bottled at 59.80%, is a confidential edition selected for the Itinéraires collection. Produced by the Shinshu Mars Distillery, founded in 1985 and partially relocated to Tsunuki in southern Japan, this single malt illustrates the art of cross-maturation specific to Mars: a distillate born in the warm and humid climate of Tsunuki, then matured in the cooler, mountainous cellars of Komagatake, at an altitude of over 800 meters.
This whisky, aged for seven years in bourbon casks, takes its name Uwate Nage (“superior projection” in Japanese) from a martial metaphor dear to the distillery: balance, controlled power and precision of gesture. The double Tsunuki–Komagatake aging, rare in the world of Japanese whisky, brings a complex aromatic dimension where the richness of the wood combines with the freshness of the alpine climate.
On the nose, it reveals intense aromas of honey, vanilla, and ripe exotic fruits, supported by notes of toasted almonds, coconut, and dried flowers. On the palate, the texture is ample, smooth, and vibrant. Flavors of blond caramel, toasted oak, and flambéed banana blend with a more mineral and spicy structure, typical of aging at altitude. The finish, long and tense, expresses nuances of warm malt, white pepper, and candied fruits, with an elegant oaky persistence.
A Japanese single malt of rare elegance, combining the strength of Tsunuki's southern climate with the crystalline precision of Komagatake. Enjoy neat or lightly aerated to appreciate its full complexity.