Hey friends,
You can check out my latest YouTube review here for the Mars Komagatake Yakushima Aging 2021 Edition. How does it compare to previous versions? You can read those reviews here.
Kampai
Brian
Mars Yakushima Aging 2021 Edition
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Tag Archives: Mars Single Malt Whisky
Mars Komagatake Limited Edition 2022 50%abv
Hey friends,
Haha, forget that I did a review on YouTube for this here a couple of weeks ago. Mars Komagatake 2022 Limited Edition. You can check out how compares to previous editions here.
Kampai
Brian
Mars Tsunuki Single Malt 2022 Edition 50%abv
Hey guys,
Check out my latest Youtube video here Lets see how this Mars Tsunuki 2022 Edition compares to previous editions, as well as Mars Shinshu Distillery Whiskies aged at Tsunuki. I say 5 previously but there is actually 7. If you’ve tried it let me know what you think in the comments.
Kampai
Brian
Mars Komagatake Heavily Peated 2012-2019 7YO For Tokyo Whisky Festival 2019 Hogshead Cask #1578 60%abv
Nose: Beautiful interplay of peat and fruits. Fishing trawlers, fishing trawler diesel, fishing trawler docks. Damp earth, tinned pears, apple sauce, Dragon fruit, burnt eucalyptus, vanilla bean, peach skins and a floral note. Some citrus and medicinal notes with water added.
Palate: Caramel chews, the best chocolate sauce, damp sweet earth, toffee apples, apple sauce, pears. Burnt eucalyptus, Ferrero Rocher, peanut butter. With water there is some tangy orange and medicinal flavours. Full bodied.|
Finish: Peanut butter, butter menthols, the best chocolate sauce, sweet damp earth. Is there such a thing as chocolate peat? Menthol, some oak tannins and some ash with water added.
Last Word: A cracking 7 year old whisky! Superb!
Rating: 91/100
Mars Komagatake Single Malt 2021 Limited Edition 48%abv
Nose: Pear and apple orchards, desiccated coconut, vanilla essence, shortbread biscuits, rose petals, toffee. With water added some camomile tea and lemon zest.
Palate: Crispy red apples, pear skins, guava, some sherbet zing, malt, vanilla, Brazil nuts, pepper, butter. With water added, some chili, salt and almonds. Medium bodied.
Finish: Vanilla, toffee, dried apples, coconut, shortbread biscuits. Water improves the length by some margin and brings back the pepper to the finish.
Last Word: Straight out of the Mars House Style playbook. Another solid annual Komagatake Ltd Edition.
Rating: 87/100
Mars Komagatake Single Malt Nature of Shinshu Shinanotanpopo 52%abv
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, strawberries, strawberry shortbread, sherry, oak. Whisky barrel warehouse, raisins, currants, fig paste, nutmeg. More vanilla and sherry with water added plus a floral note.
Palate: Baking spices, strawberry shortbread, vanilla essence, honey. Peanuts, sharp cheddar with cracked pepper, sherry. Some tangy orange and a hint of banana with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Peanuts, oak, honey, then a decent hit of smoke comes out of nowhere. Finish starts a little flat with water added to start, then a buttery mouth feel and more smoke.
Last Word: Very well blended mix of bourbon, american white oak and sherry casks. Decent compexity when you throw in that latent smokey element.
Rating: 87/100
Mars Le Papillon (A.puspa) 2015-2019 4YO Single Malt Double Cask Bourbon Barrels #2021 & 2024 54%abv
Nose: Dulce de leche, warm apricot pie, nutmeg, sweet tobacco, vanilla, lemon curd, lumber yard. A big floral note with water added.
Palate: Hot! Chili’s, fresh ginger, wasabi. Once it settles a bit, on the mid palate there is vanilla, grapefruit, sawdust, fermented green apples, fermented pears, pepper, pie crust. Nutmeg, salt, oranges and more pepper with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Apple sauce, pie crust, fresh cut timber. Dry. Some caramel and orange slices with water added.
Last Word: The quality of the distilation is there but, too unbalanced on the young, hot and spikey side on the palate. Needs a lot of water to tame.
My least favorite of the Le Papillon series so far.
Rating: 84/100
Mars Tsunuki Single Malt Peated 2016/17-2020 50%abv
Nose: Some Iodine and earthy peat. Stone fruits such as nectarines and apricots. Herbacious, sage, cloves, fresh mint leaves. Dark Honey, apricot jam, nutmeg, pepper, balsamic. Some vanilla slice with water added.
Palate: Leads with some hot spices then the herbs stand out. Also earthy peat, pears, apples, oranges, chestnuts, coconut, pork crackling. Oily mouth feel. Salt and Juicy Fruits Gum with water added. Full bodied.
Finish: Oak, chesnuts, balsamic, earthy peat, cloves, fresh mint leaves. Cacoa powder and mint ice cream with water added. Some grilled peppers and big smoke after a few minutes.
Last Word: If you’re looking for an Islay style Heavily Peated Whisky you may be disappointed. However, if you’re looking for a well balanced, complex whisky with a peaty undercurrent, you will be a pleased as I am.
Interesting for being the most herbacious Peated Mars Single Malt I’ve tasted.
Rating: 89/100
Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Ageing 2013-2017 4YO Bourbon Cask #5113 59%abv
Nose: Whisky soaked oak staves, caramel, vanilla, sweet peat, bay leaves, brine, stewed apples, stewed pears, pepper. More of the vanilla and some pineapple with water added.
Palate: Chilli and pepper spice. Green apples, tinned pears, sweet peat, vanilla, apple pie crust, sweetened lemons, brine. Just the right amount of cask strength punch. Pineapple and passionfruit with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Sweet peat, sweetened lemons, iodine, tobacco leaf, old leather, euchalyptus, butter menthols. Some passionfruit icecream with water. After a few minutes some pure smoke.
Last Word: Really well balanced. Very tasty and hard to stop at just one dram!
Rating: 90/100
Mars Komagatake Single Malt 2019 Voyager Estate Wine Cask Finish 4YO Cask #1756 47%abv
Nose: Oak, red berries, pepper, currants, plum jam, dark honey, rose petals, nutmeg, mint jelly. Almonds, icing sugar and a light citrus note with water added.
Palate: Lots of jammy flavors, plums, strawberries, figs. Black currants, cinnamon, dark chocolate, coffee, rasberries. Almonds and lemon merangue with water. Medium bodied.
Finish: Plums, raisins, vanilla, menthol. A tart strawberry note with water added.
Last Word: A good whisky but comes off a little unbalanced towards the wine profile. I also think it lacks some punch for 47%abv.
Rating: 85/100
Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Aging 2013-2017 4YO Bourbon Cask #5113 59%abv
Nose: Whisky soaked oak staves. Caramel, vanilla, sweet peat, bay leaves, brine. Stewed apples, stewed pears, pepper. More of the vanilla plus some pineapple with water.
Palate: Chilli and pepper spice. Green apples, tinned pears, sweet peat, vanilla, apple pie crust, sweet lemons, brine. Just the right amount of cask strength punch. Pineapple and passionfruit with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Sweet peat, sweet lemons, honeyed oak, tobacco leaf, old leather, euchalyptus, butter menthols. Some passionfruit ice cream with water added. After a few minutes some long pure smoke. A really strong finsh!
Last Word: Very well balanced as I’ve found in all the young Mars and for that matter Chichibu, Heavily Peated Whisky I’ve tasted. Moreish, hard to stop at just one dram of this!
Rating: 90/100
Mars Komagatake Single Malt IPA Cask Finish 2020 52%abv
Nose: Sweet. Apples, pears, honey, green grapes, pineapple, vanilla wafers. There’s a floral note and a decent amount of new oak. If the label did not state IPA Cask Finish I’m not sure you could pick the influence. The apple and honey are more intense with water added plus rose petals.
Palate: Lots of juicy fruitiness. Oranges, pears, apples, pineapples. There’s the honey and vanilla plus a touch of sawdust. Some well balanced warming spices, also some oiliness to the mouth feel. No real switch up or down with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Honey, oak, grilled banana then some green apples skins. The warming spiced make a come back on the finish with some water added.
Last Word: I like what Mars has done here. Finishing casks are often sink or swim for me and this one swims. Better balanced than the Chichibu IPA Cask Finish that was overwhelmed by the cask influence.
Rating: 87/100
Mars Le Papillon A.cardamines 4YO 2015-2020 Sherry Butt #3397 58%abv
Nose: Raisins, currants, pepper, Christmas cake, blueberry muffins, black plums. Brandy, euchalyptus, leather, sweet tobacco, Ribena. Water adds vanilla, pork crackling and fresh chopped lemon rind.
Palate: Creamed sherry, guava, raspberries, oranges. Macadamias, cashews, almonds, pepper, pickled ginger, pumpernickel, varnish. With water the vanilla and pork crackling plus iced coffee.
Finish: Maraschino cherries, cashews, menthol, toffee apples, oak, peanut butter, minerals. Water enhances the toffee apples. Full bodied.
Palate: Young Mars sherry cask matured whiskies are proving to be more consistant that the old sherry cask matured stuff. This one is super!
Rating: 91/100
Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Ageing 2019 56%abv
Nose: Leads with a big peppery note. Dried apricots and peaches, cloves, mint leaves, nutmeg, vanilla, stewed apples with cinnamon, a floral note, a savory sauce note. Nicely balanced nose. With water there is also green apples and sawdust.
Palate: Caramel sundae, vanilla, marmalade, dried citrus peel, Weis Mango Bar. Nougat, marzipan, thickened cream, tangy orange, pepper, key lime pie. Full bodied. With water passionfruit slice and lemon sherbet.
Finish: Weis Mango Bar, oak, custard apples. cinnamon and nutmeg. With water pepper, more of the oak and mint chocolate ice cream.
Last Word: Top notch well balanced youngster!
Rating: 89/100
Mars Komagatake Single Malt Yakushima Aging 2020 53%abv
Nose: Strawberry conserve, pineapple, passionfruit, banana, dusty oak barrels, sea spray, white pepper, vanilla slice. Water adds white flowers, white nectarines and more of the sea spray.
Palate: Pineapple, banana, vanilla slice, marzipan, dark chocolate, red peanut skins, grapefruit, strawberry conserve, passionfruit, salt & pepper. With water malt and pistachios. Medium bodied.
Finish: Lemon tart, white pepper. marzipan, dusty oak, licorice, cacao paste, oak tannins and what seems like some light peating.
Last Word: Tasty young Mars and consistancy of quality has become a hallmark for their single malts. Still hoping for some older age statement releases soon as 2021 marks 10 years since Mars started distilling whisky again.
Rating: 88/100
Mars Komagatake Super Heavily Peated 2012-2015 3YO Cask #1492 For Mitsukoshi Isetan 58%abv
Nose: Dark chocolate, lemon cough drops, BBQ pineapple, diesel fumes, coal, creosote. Damp earth, Bay Leaves, mechanics work shop, ripe pear skins, vanilla pod, stables. With water even more diesel, plus tar in Betadine.
Palate: Pepper, chili’s, paprika. Soot, 90% dark chocolate, dried pears, mandarins, vanilla, coal, raisins. Water adds lemon, salt and Bay Leaves. Full bodied.
Finish: Mint, 90% dark chocolate, pepper, chili’s, cacao paste, short black, balsamic, soot, dry. Water lengthens the hot spices and adds trailing lemons.
Last Word: A whisky that brings a sledge hammer to a knife fight. While maybe not as balanced as some of the other Mars Heavily Peated Whiskies I’ve tasted it’s certainly entertaining. The nose it the highlight.
Rating: 86/100
Mars Single Malt for ePower 2013-2016 3YO 56.9%abv
Nose: A Mars that errs more to the savory/spicy/herbaceous side. Cloves, chili’s, pepper, pickled plums, nutmeg. BBQ pork with plum sauce, dried papaya, rhubarb stalks, shiitake mushrooms. Water adds sweeter and floral elements.
Palate: Pepper, chili’s, dried papaya, orange sherbet, rhubarb, nutmeg, cloves. BBQ pork, shiitake mushrooms, oak, organic cacao chunks. More tangy with water.
Finish: Shiitake mushrooms, oak, BBQ sauce, BBQ hotplate, organic cacao chunks. With water tangy orange and some vanilla.
Last Word: Haven’t tasted this for about a year and it has improved over time. Only three years old……hard to believe.
Rating: 88/100
Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Ageing 2018 57% abv
Nose: Stewed apples, cloves, nutmeg, toffee, dried pears, honey. BBQ hotplate, grapefruit, pepper, bay leaves, wood shavings, seared pork. A little more savory and herbaceous with water and some added white flowers.
Palate: Pepper, fresh ginger and chili powder to start. Cloves, stewed apples, nutmeg, grapefruit, salt, seared pork, peanut butter. More fresh and lively with water added plus vanilla and the white flowers.
Finish: Cloves, bay leaves, stewed apples, peanut butter, BBQ hotplate, oak. Finish is longer with water and quite juicy.
Last Word: For the age surprisingly complex especially with water added.
Rating: 88/100
Mars Single Cask Komagatake 2012 6YO Bourbon Cask # 1493 Heavily Peated 60%abv
Nose: Mechanics workshop, Dettol, fermented pears, apple sauce, lemon cough mixture, lacquered teak, gun powder, licorice, pouch tobacco, tea leaves. Water added you get some white chocolate and white flowers.
Palate: Mechanics workshop, Turkish Delight, rhubarb, fermented pears, cocoa powder, licorice, apple sauce. Pepper, cloves, bay leaves, lemon sherbet. Water brings out some almond and orange zest.
Finish: Ash, pouch tobacco, lemon cough mixture, nutmeg, bay leaves, vanilla, lemon sherbet, white chocolate.
Last Word: A beauty from Mars. Despite the 50ppm of peat there’s a fresh liveliness. Not the type of whisky that uses heavily peating to hide a multitude of sins. Complex for the age and very well balanced.
Rating: 90/100
Mars Komagatake Yakushima Ageing 2019 58%abv
Nose: Some similarities to the 2019 Double Cellars(similar casks types I’d guess). Nectarines, black plums, blackcurrants, cloves, plum sauce, cola, treacle, manuka honey, pepper, nutmeg, cola, dark chocolate cake icing.
Palate: Juicy fruits or blackcurrants, black plums, raisins. Salt, cloves, cacoa nibs, pepper, Arnott’s Savoury Shapes buscuits, ginger bread, pumpernickel, leather. Doesn’t change a lot with water, a little added nuttiness and grapefruit bitteress. Medium full bodied. Gets quite smoky the longer the bottle is open.
Finish: Ribena, pumpernickel, Brazil nuts, raisins. smoke.
Last Word: A satisfying fruity and spicey Mars Whisky.
Rating: 86/100