MARS Komagatake IPA Cask Finish 2024

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

Special Features:

An IPA cask finish shapes this 2024 Komagatake release. The single malt first matured in ex-bourbon casks, then in casks that had held India Pale Ale from Minami Shinshu Beer. The hop-rich beer brings fresh citrus and herbal notes alongside malt, vanilla and oak. Limited to 2,730 bottles, the whisky was bottled at 52%.

Only unpeated malt was used for the 2024 release, unlike earlier editions in the IPA cask series. The whisky is not chill-filtered and contains no added colouring. Its citrus sweetness and fresh, bitter aftertaste make the influence of the finish clear.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, grapefruit peel and lime emerge alongside fresh, floral and herbal hop notes. Sweet malt and a light touch of oak form the background.
• Palate: On the palate, grapefruit and lime meet sweet malt and vanilla. Hops and herbs provide a lightly bitter counterpoint.
• Finish: The finish is clean and lightly bittersweet. Refreshing dryness lingers with hints of citrus and hops and a delicate bitterness.

Distillery/Bottler:

Mars Komagatake Distillery produced this single malt at the foot of the Central Alps in Nagano Prefecture. Situated at an altitude of 798 metres, the distillery belongs to Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd., producer of MARS whiskies. Hombo began making whisky there in 1985, suspended distillation in 1992 and resumed it in 2011.

Hombo Shuzo has been involved in Minami Shinshu Beer since the brewery was founded in 1995. Its Komagatake brewery stands immediately beside the whisky distillery and supplies the casks previously used for IPA for this finish. Hombo Shuzo bottled the whisky as an official bottling.

Facts: