Mars Shinshu Komagatake IPA Cask Finish 2022 (70cl, 52%)

This Komagatake edition from Mars Shinshu is a Japanese single malt bottled in 2022 at 52% in a 70cl bottle. It is made from malt whisky of the Mars Komagatake Distillery in Nagano Prefecture. After maturing in ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky spent further time in casks from the Minami Shinshu Brewery that previously held a strongly hopped India Pale Ale. The hops show in the citrus aroma and the clear, bitter finish. The nose is fresh and citrusy, shaped by the hops. The palate gives a distinct taste of grapefruit and herbs, and the finish ends with a pronounced bitterness.