Mars Tsunuki 2026 Edition - Single Malt Japanese Whisky

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Tsunuki 2026 Edition is a Japanese single malt at 49%, composed predominantly of malt whiskies matured in ex-bourbon barrels and sherry casks, complemented by other cask types. This official 2026 bottling comes in gift packaging.

It is the fifth Annual Edition release. Including The First and Peated, it is the seventh release in the series. Since the distillery opened in 2016, its team has monitored the maturation of its cask stocks to develop the Tsunuki style.

The label depicts the former distillation tower and the landscape surrounding the distillery. The historic tower still stands on the grounds, recalling Hombo Shuzo’s earlier alcohol production.

The whisky is non-chill filtered and contains no colouring. The bottle contains 0.7 litres.

Orange marmalade and poached pears also contribute to its fruity character. Sweet tea biscuits, dark chocolate and almonds complement these impressions, with gentle peat smoke and oak notes adding further accents.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens with sweet cheesecake and chocolate notes alongside candied orange peel. Gentle smoke gradually emerges.
• Palate: On the palate, juicy pear compote notes meet the nutty sweetness of almond chocolate. Fruit and chocolate combine in a balanced flavour.
• Finish: The vibrant fruit persists through the long finish. It is full-bodied, dense and layered, with a slightly bittersweet note.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hombo Shuzo produces the 2026 Edition at Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima. Opened in 2016, the distillery lies in the southwest of the Satsuma Peninsula, at the company’s original home, where Hombo Shuzo has been making shochu for more than a century.

Tsunuki occupies a basin between the Kurata and Nagaya mountain ranges, with hot summers and winters that are unusually cold for southern Satsuma. These temperature fluctuations shape the maturation environment. The distillery uses spring water from the Kurata mountains in production. Its storage facilities include a stone cask warehouse whose internal temperature varies comparatively little throughout the year.

Facts: