MARS SHINSHU Komagatake IPA Cask Finish 2022

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 52% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A beer-cask finish gives this Komagatake edition its distinctive character. After maturing in former Bourbon Barrels, the single malt underwent an additional maturation period in casks from Minami Shinshu Brewery. These casks had previously held a heavily hopped India Pale Ale, or IPA. The influence of the hops is evident in the citrus aromas and the clean, bitter finish.

This edition was bottled in 2022 at 52% alcohol. It comes in a 0.7-litre bottle with gift packaging. Its citrus and herbal notes also suit a highball, in which the whisky is mixed with soda water. Grapefruit peel and bitter orange add to its fruity, bitter character.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Refreshing citrus notes shaped by the influence of hops stand out on the nose.
• Palate: The palate reveals clear flavours of grapefruit and herbs.
• Finish: The finish fades with a distinct bitterness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hombo Shuzo built the distillery now known as Mars Komagatake Distillery in 1985 at the foot of Mount Komagatake in Nagano Prefecture. It stands at an altitude of 798 metres in Japan’s Central Alps. The cool, often foggy climate and local water resources were decisive factors in choosing the site. Rain and meltwater from the surrounding mountains pass through the granite ground, picking up natural minerals along the way.

The Komagatake brand takes its name from the mountain and comprises single malts made from this distillery’s malt whisky. For the IPA edition, Hombo Shuzo connects whisky production with the brewing culture of nearby Minami Shinshu Brewery: its used beer casks provide the whisky’s finishing maturation.

Facts: