MARS The Y.A. #5 (70cl, 49%)

MARS The Y.A. #05 is a Japanese blended malt, the fifth edition of the series, released in 2026 in an outturn of 9,000 bottles. It marries malts from the Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries, matured in the Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar. Y.A. stands for Yakushima Aging. The emphasis is on ex-bourbon barrels, and the whiskies spend more than four years on the rainy, subtropical island. It is bottled at 49% without chill-filtration, in a 70cl bottle. The nose brings grilled apricots and a touch of smoke. The palate is juicy, with citrus recalling satsuma mandarins. The finish combines ripe yellow fruit with sea salt.