MARS Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Whiskey - Manzanilla Finish 2022

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A Manzanilla sherry finish gives this limited edition of Mars Maltage Cosmo its distinctive character. The blended malt combines Japanese and British malt whiskies; after blending, it underwent further maturation in casks previously used for this light, dry style of sherry. The cask selection also includes former bourbon casks and previously unused oak casks.

A soft, gentle mouthfeel accompanies notes of dried fruit, brown sugar and maple syrup. Coconut and chocolate contrast with a subtle bitterness, while nutty, spicy and salty accents round out the profile. The name Cosmo refers to Mount Kosumo in Japan’s Central Alps.

This edition was bottled in 2022 at 42% in bottles containing 0.7 litres and comes with gift packaging. It is non-chill filtered and contains no colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, warm cocoa notes mingle with the sweet scent of strawberry marshmallows. Damp cedarwood provides a woody counterpoint.
• Palate: The palate reveals gentle oak, resinous herbal notes and lemon peel.
• Finish: On the finish, dark chocolate and the astringent tannic notes of black tea meet angelica root. A delicate trace of coconut and sea salt lingers. Dried fruit, subtle oak spice and salty sweetness add to the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hombo Shuzo was founded in Tsunuki in 1872 and began producing whisky in 1949. Kiichiro Iwai shaped the company’s technical foundations; the malt distillation operation established in Yamanashi in 1960 used equipment he had designed.

Mars Komagatake Distillery is located in Miyada, Nagano Prefecture, at an altitude of 798 metres at the foot of the Central Alps. It opened in 1985 as Mars Shinshu Distillery. Distillation ceased in 1992 and resumed in 2011; the distillery has borne its current name since 2024. Fermentation takes place in both stainless-steel and wooden vessels, followed by distillation in pot stills.

For Cosmo, the company combines its own malt from Nagano with Scottish single malt. Blending, finishing, adjustment to bottling strength and bottling take place at the distillery in Nagano. The original Cosmo bottling was introduced at the Tokyo International Bar Show in 2015; subsequent editions explore different cask finishes.

Facts: