Mars : Yakushima Japanese Whisky

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Yakushima Japanese Whisky by Mars

Tasting

Nose
Enticing bouquet of exotic fruits with notes of grilled pineapple, ripe banana, and the sweet softness of mango. Lightly saline iodine touches intermingle with citrus and delicate white flowers, creating a remarkable aromatic complexity.

Palate
The attack delights with the vanilla sweetness of malt and the richness of caramelized fruits. Exotic fruits persist with a beautiful structure, accompanied by medium peat and a fine smoke. The whole reveals saline notes that bring a unique maritime dimension.

Pairings and Tasting Occasions

This whisky is ideally enjoyed neat at room temperature to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity. It pairs perfectly with exotic fruit desserts or fine chocolates.

A Japanese Whisky with a Velvety Touch and Delicate Woodiness

Mars Whisky: Japanese Excellence Across Three Climates

Founded by Kiichiro Iwai, the Mars distillery represents the pinnacle of Japanese whisky through its Komagatake and Tsunuki sites. Owned by the Mars Whisky group, Komagatake, closed in 1992, was reborn in 2011 at 800 meters altitude in a harsh climate, while Tsunuki opened in 2016. The innovation lies in the use of three aging sites with distinct climates, including the tropical island of Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This unique approach allows experimentation with different climatic conditions, creating complex aromatic profiles combining exotic fruits and iodized notes, the distinctive signature of this pioneering house of Japanese whisky.

Yakushima Japanese Spring: an Exceptional Tropical Blend

Yakushima Japanese Spring is a Blend of small-batch single malts distilled at the Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries. This exceptional blend undergoes maturation mainly in bourbon casks on the tropical island of Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. The island's unique environment, characterized by a hot and humid climate and access to pure water sources, imparts the whisky with its distinctive exotic fruit notes and its saline character.

Some casks used for this maturation feature a remarkable detail: their original heads have been replaced with cherry cask heads, adding an extra subtlety to the aromatic profile. This Japanese whisky, produced in a limited edition, captures the essence of Japanese spring and the tradition of hanami (literally, 'flower viewing'), offering a tasting experience that transports you to Yakushima's mystical forests.