Japanese

Japanese Whisky Review: Mars Komagatake 1988 Cask #557 26 Year Old

$1,500

OVERALL
RATING

7

Japanese Whisky Review: Mars Komagatake 1988 Cask #557 26 Year Old

This Komagatake was distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2014. The whisky was aged in American white oak and yielded 347 bottles.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
A rare single cask release from a once-shuttered Japanese distillery. The Shinshu Mars Distillery began distilling in 1985 before closing in 1992. The distillery was revived again in 2011. This cask was distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2014. The whisky was aged in American white oak and yielded 347 bottles. As with most Japanese whiskies from that era it has become increasingly harder to find as many of them have already been opened and consumed.
Appearance:
Red Winter Wheat
Nose:
Pine needles, forest floor, malt.
Palate:
Dry cedar, malted barley, black pepper, really a beautiful array of savory cooking spices and a hint of campfire smoke.
Finish:
The finish is long and provides everything you would want from a rare Japanese single cask of this age, lengthy oaky finish, dried apricots and stone fruit.
Comments:
This is not a bottle you’ll find readily available but if given the opportunity is definitely one worth seeking out to try. For someone familiar with only the major Japanese whisky brands and standard proofed-down releases this one might come as a shock as it is reminiscent of a traditional Scottish single malt.

Tzvi (Todd) Wiesel

Tzvi (Todd) Wiesel is the Co-Founder and CEO of BAXUS, an on-chain whisky marketplace. With years of experience in the industry, Todd is passionate about whisky investmemt and trading, as well as trying new whiskies wherever possible. Todd is the head of our US reviews team and is based in New York.

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