Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky

A corn-forward Whisky from Japan aged in ex-Bourbon casks for a Bourbon-inspired profile.

The Hombo family has been creating Wines and Spirits in Japan for more than 100 years. They added Whisky to their products in 1949. In 1984 they wanted to move the distilling operation to a cooler climate, so they closed their distillery in Kagoshima and built a new one high in the mountains of Nagano at an altitude of more than 2600 feet — the Mars Shinshu Distillery. But a few mishaps caused them to cease production in 1992. It opened again in 2011, and new stills were acquired in 2014. But their warehouse still contains hundreds of casks stretching back thirty years. Now at full production strength, this small distillery produces a range of sweet and peated Whiskies.

Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky is a “Bourbon-inspired” dram. The mash bill is approximately 75% corn and 25% malted barley to facilitate fermentation and open up the floral aromatics. The Spirit is aged in ex-Bourbon casks as well, lending even more Bourbon flavors to each sip. The resulting Spirit is bottle in a double-hopped bottle at 40% ABV.

Smartass Corner:
The Iwai line of Whiskies is named after Kiichiro Iwai. Although not famous in the West, Iwai is known as the “Silent Pioneer of Japanese Whisky” who mentored Masataka Taketsuru — founder of Nikka and Suntory.