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Single Malt Whisky from Mars Tsunuki Distillery Part 2 This is the “Single Malt Tsunuki Peated” that will be.

Compared to the first release, “Tsunuki the First” which was released in April of last year, the peat used to dry the malt is more fragrant, giving it a smoky aroma and taste derived from peat.

The Mars Tsunuki Distillery is now in its fifth year since its opening in 2016. The malt raw material is made with high quality spring water from the Kurata mountain range, and the distillery pursues a different type of raw material production from the Shinshu distillery in a maturing environment unique to the basin, where summers are warm and winters can be below zero.

The Bottle

Mainly peated barrels aged in bourbon.

Single Malt Tsunuki PEATED is made from peated malt distilled in the first season and aged in bourbon barrels. It has a pleasantly sweet and soft aroma, followed by a smoky flavor derived from the peat that spreads in the mouth, giving it a lingering taste that is typical of distilleries in the southernmost part of the mainland.

The two curved lines on the top and bottom of the bottle depict the ridges of the Central Alps in Nagano Prefecture on the top and Sakurajima and other mountains in Kagoshima Prefecture on the bottom. The upper part of the design represents the Central Alps in Nagano Prefecture, and the lower part the ridges of Sakurajima and other mountains in Kagoshima Prefecture, representing the natural environment of the two prefectures where Mars Whiskey’s distilleries are located, which produce a wide variety of raw materials.

(Reference: Hombo Shuzo official website )

Our Take

The previous “Tsunuki the First” was a delicious whiskey with a sweet and juicy taste reminiscent of tropical fruits and maple syrup, and it was hard to believe that it was aged for three years.

The current “Tsunuki Peated” is mainly peated malt aged in bourbon barrels, and as it says, it has a fruity, sweet and soft flavor, followed by a smoky flavor derived from peat that spreads to the mouth. I don’t feel the tidiness of the Islay, but the smokiness is present.

If you add a small amount of water, the fruity sweetness becomes even more assertive and gorgeous in the mouth. It is also sweet in a highball, and the peat is as strong as it is delicious. If you like peat, I highly recommend it.
It feels a little young right after opening the bottle, but I look forward to seeing how it changes in the future.

(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)

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