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
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
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
Nose: Honey, treacle, dried pears, apricot jam, Brandy, ginger ale, orange peel, earthy peat, lemon cough drops, charred twigs. Shows a level of maturity that belies the young age.
Palate: Some nice spiciness mostly nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cocoa, vanilla, almond flakes, butter, lemon meringue, earthy peat, coconut water. Adding a little water brings out tangy orange and peanut butter.
Finish: Nutmeg, almond flakes, lingering cashew nuts and with water the peanut butter.
Last Word: A very solid young whisky. I could envisage a few friends polishing off a bottle in a session. I’d call it user friendly. 46%abv seems spot on for this one.
Rating: 86/100 87/100(for the age)
*Did the notes up yesterday but today in a different glass, different time of day and different drink(iced berry & kale smoothie) before hand, this one is coming off as far more medicinal on the palate. Just something else to look out for.
Nose: This is Heavily Peated Whisky by Japanese standards. If you have tried any of the Chichibu ‘standard’ peated bottling’s, this is peated to at least that level but the Mars peat is much earthier. Dried mushrooms, bay leaves, ripe apricot, honeycomb, oregano, antiseptic, lemon, vanilla. Water ups the vanilla.
Palate: Ok, on the palate this is flat our heavily peated. Ash, antiseptic, lemon cough drops. diesel, earthy peat. Charred oak, salt, marzipan, vanilla. Quite oily as witnessed by the legs that draw down the glass slower than a snail. Cucumber water. More than acceptable without water even at 59%abv. With a little water the marzipan gets louder as does the vanilla and adds some zingy lemon sherbet. A few drops more and we have breath mints and almonds.
Finish: Satisfyingly long, the oiliness continues to coat the mouth. Ash, diesel, antiseptic, lemon, almonds and vanilla.
Last Word: I remember when I bought a couple of different new make Mars peated whiskies a number years back. The quality of the distillation and the balance of the peat spoke of the promise of great things to come. That promise has been fulfilled. Fantastic at 3 years I can only imagine what a 10YO will be like. Highly recommended!
Rating: 89/100