Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky

A harmonious Whisky that would make Iwai-san proud. Mars Shinshu has taken Japanese Whisky to new heights, literally.

Whisky-making at 798 meters (just over 2,600 feet), Shinshu is the highest Whisky distillery in Japan. Mars Shinshu is owned by the Hombo’s, a family Japanese brewers that have been in the business of distillation for over a century.

They eventually took a shot at Whisky, making it a part of their production in 1949. They decided to move the distillery to the idyllic alpine village Miyada. This high altitude and cool climate provides excellent Whisky-making conditions.

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky is named after Kiichiro Iwai, also known as “The Silent Pioneer of Japanese Whisky,” Iwai-san and former mentor of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and Suntory Whisky. Iwai sent Taketsuru to Scotland to learn the art of Whisky-making. And he became the first Japanese to learn the art, Taketsuru returned to Japan, presenting a Whisky-making report – the Taketsuru Notes – to Iwai.

This special Japanese blend is distilled with the waters that pass through granite rock, which is high in natural minerals. Iwai is a blended Whisky, made of both single malts, grains, and blended Whiskies.

This mixture is then aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and ex-Wine casks, creating a perfect trifecta of harmonious flavor. Shinshu’s Whiskies are quality manifestations of their longstanding history of distilling. “Kame no kou yori toshi no kou”: “Wisdom gotten from age is better than the shell of a tortoise.” With age comes wisdom, and damn good Whisky.

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky guided tasting: Brad Japhe takes us on a tasting adventure through the Whiskeyverse of Advent Calendar 2021.