Mars Shinshu "Iwai Tradition" Blended Japanese Whisky (750ml)

Staff Reviews

SB

Scott Beckerley

Scott Beckerley

This whiskey was a very pleasant surprise, especially for the price. A relatively rich nose of caramel, citrus peel and light smoke. On the palate, it begins lightly with malted barley, toasted hazelnuts and caramel cream. On the finish a nice light bite of anise and toasted bread.

Notes

The Mars distillery is very well regarded in Japan despite the low price point. The pot stills used to make this whisky were constructed in the '50s. The fat stills produce a very weighty and complex spirit that delivers a rich texture and complex aromas. Hombo Shuzo, the owners of the distillery, are one of Japan's top wine producers and therefore have access to a great number of cask types. Most whisky is aged in sherry and bourbon, but the distillery is also experimenting with wine casks as well. Iwai has a richness and texture that many of the other entry-level Japanese whiskies do not achieve. This wondeful whisky is a blend of roughly 70% malted barley and 30% grain whiskey (corn). It is aged in ex-bourbon, sherry, wine, virgin French oak, and new American. The whiskies in the blend are aged between 2-5 years of age. The Iwai Tradition is very much a drinker's whisky and offers a lot of pleasure for your dollar. It may not have the cache that the Suntory whiskies have, but it's got every bit as much quality and complexity.