What you need to know:

• Hombo Shuzo's Mars Shinshu Distillery is releasing a series of 365 individually hand-painted 30 Year Old single cask single distillery bottlings for the popular Mars Malt Le Papillon brand.

• Each bottle is handpainted in the traditional Japanese Rinpa-style by artist Takahide Komatsu, featuring 257 species of butterflies native to Japan. The theme behind the bottlings is to pay homage to the changing four seasons in Japan and how the whisky bottled inside transitions as well with time passing to develop its full flavors.

• The Rinpa technique is one of Japan’s major historical schools of art, created in Kyoto in the 17^th century, typically comprising of elements from nature, set against gold leaf and calligraphy.

• The bottles were distilled in 1990 and aged in American White Oak barrels, bottled at natural cask strength (55% abv). 

• This will be made available through lottery which will be held between October 29^th (Friday) to November 14^th (Sunday), 2021. Link below for the lottery! *Each bottle will go for 297,000 JPY, or 2,607 USD.

• For the price, is this even a question? The sheer uniqueness of each individual hand-painted label (which are simply gorgeous by the way) and the quality of the whisky inside makes it a no-brainer. Certainly more has been paid for less.

• Cop the Drop or Not Verdict: Cop

 (Image Source: Go-Nagano.net, Hombo Shuzo)

Hombo Shuzo has unveiled a set of 30 Year Old single cask single malt whiskies from Mars Shinshu Distillery, named the “Mars Malt Le Papillon takahide Komatsu Edition”, with labels featuring the original paintings by artist Takahide Komatsu using the Rinpa technique.

The series aims to express the splendor of the changing four seasons and natural environment through the butterfly motif, featuring butterflies native to Japan. This natural beauty is compared by the artist to the transitions a whisky makes as it ages and develops in taste.

A classic Rinpa-style painting done on a screen, featuring motifs from nature against a gold leaf backdrop. (Image Source: New York Times)

A total of 365 works were produced in the Rinpa style, spanning 257 different species of butterflies native to Japan. The Rinpa technique is one of Japan’s major historical schools of art, created in Kyoto in the 17^th century. It incorporates various traditional motifs from nature and the lavish use of expensive mineral and metallic pigments, as well as calligraphy and a variety of brush techniques.

A classic Rinpa-styled artwork typically focuses on elements of nature as the primary subject matter (such as birds, plants and flowers), set against an ornate background filled with hand-applied gold leaf, as well as calligraphy brush strokes. 

Each bottle has a one-of-a-kind unique hand-painted label featuring Mars' Papillon (Butterfly) in the Rinpa style by Takahide Komatsu. (Image Source: Hombo Shuzu)

The 30 Year Old single cask single malts were distilled in 1990 and aged in American White Oak barrels, bottled at natural cask strength (55% abv). Each bottle features one of these 365 individually hand painted labels - each of which is one of a kind original works.

This will be made available through lottery which will be held between October 29^th (Friday) to November 14^th (Sunday), 2021. The lottery application can be done via a direct visit to the distillery, via mail or via online application (which can be found here). Do note that if selected, you will not be able to choose the specific label.

Each bottle will go for 297,000 JPY, or 2,607 USD.

(Image Source: Hombo Shuzu) 

Click here for link to Hombo Shuzo's lottery site! Good luck!

Our Take

Given that each bottle sports a one of a kind hand-painted label, this is not just an incredible bottle of whisky, it’s really an incredible piece of art. It really appeals to me how the distillery has rendered their well-known papillon (or butterfly) in this gorgeous traditional Japanese manner, that simply embodies the incredibly well-aged whisky inside and what the distillery stands for. Truly a one of a kind homage.

(Image Source: Hombo Shuzu)

For the price, I think it’s more than worth the cop. There has certainly been more that has been paid for far, far less.

Unfortunately, I doubt anyone would be able to amass the entire collection of 365 bottles and perhaps there might be a sense of incomplete-ness to settle for one, but hey, be happy with your one-of-a-kind butterfly! A sense of uniqueness should come just as naturally.

The Mars Komagatake 1986 30-Year Old Trilogy Set. (Image Source: Whisky Auctioneer)

The whisky itself appears to be very typically Mars-styled whisky and hence its quality should be fairly consistent with what Mars has been putting out (which is pretty solid). This also kind of reminds me of the Mars Shinshu Komagatake 1986 30-Year Old Trilogy set featuring a trio of geishas – though two of which were matured in a Sherry cask, while one was matured in an American White Oak barrel. I haven’t had the fortune to try those, but it still blows me away everytime I see it around.

So now that you’ve got yourself another chance, well why not see it in your hands than on an auction site?

(Image Source: Hombo Shuzu)

Cop the Drop or Not Verdict: Cop

If you’re into Mars Japanese whisky, you’ll probably like these too

• Mars Komagatake Single Malt, 'The Revival 2011’, Shinshu Mars Distillery, 58%, OB, 3 Years Old, 2011, bottle 3381 (of 6000 bottles)
• Ichiro’s Malt and Mars Swaps Whiskies, Now Jointly Releases Blended Malt Bottlings
• Asia’s Love Affair with Japanese Whiskies Part 2: An Exploration of the Asian Palate

Kanpai!

 
@111hotpot