Mars Shinshu Komagatake 2021 (70cl, 48%)

Komagatake 2021 is a single malt edition from the Mars Shinshu Distillery in Nagano, Japan, now renamed Mars Komagatake Distillery. It was bottled in 2021 at 48%, limited to 50,000 bottles, without chill-filtration or added colour. The malts in the vatting matured mainly in bourbon and sherry casks. Fruity aromas and a soft sweetness recalling ripe persimmon shape its character. The nose shows banana, milk chocolate and white pepper with a fine note of almond. The palate is medium-bodied and spicy, with black and white pepper, raw ginger and earthy cinnamon. The medium-length finish is fresh, with creamy vanilla, orange peel and juicy orange.