Hombo Shuzo, the company behind Mars Distillery, produces many different styles of alcohol, starting with shochu in the early 1900s. Whisky production began in 1949 with the help of Kiichiro Iwai, a Japanese Whisky icon. Their primary distillery, Shinsu, is the highest altitude distillery in Japan, located high up in the Nagano Alps. The second is the Tsunuki distillery in Kagoshima, an island in the south of Japan. In this release, they have taken their classic Iwai Tradition blended whisky and finished it for 5 months in casks made of Chestnut.
Fuyu means winter in Japanese and this special winter release is the classic Iwai Tradition finished for 4 months in Japanese chestnut casks. These casks add a subtle sweetness & pleasant bitterness to this inherently rich & malty whisky. Brown sugar, maple syrup, and toasty aromas on the nose, gentle tannin works well to bring up the sharpness in the body. The finish is elegant and long with cacao. Bottled at 40% abv.
