Mars Komagatake 27, Bourbon Casks No. 382 Sherry Casks Nos. 327, 570, 1068, 1,246 bottles, 46% abv.

This 2018 bottle has juice that was distilled in 1986, 1988, and 1990, which dates right after the relocation in 1984. This bottle was sold in stores all over the world, but is more well known for being sold in a lottery system at Rakuten. I've seen it retail at around USD$600-700 (and a few still available at that price in SE Asia), but hearing it's over USD$1,000 in the old world. However, in the new world, not many people seem to know about it.

Nose: fruity and toasty, toast overtakes and intensifies with time. Almonds and fruits show up too.

Palate: sherry flavors here and there, quite diverse, some pastry and wood like flavors on the initial palate, transforms to a more pastry flavor, then goes into a variety of light sherry and baked fruits, in particular baked apple and baked pear. Some tannins in there too, but not particularly strong.

Finish: short to medium, vanilla coating, a slight smoke.

Wow, this is quite good. Heard a lot of bad to mediocore tasting reviews/opinions on this one. A varierty of flavors, but perhaps not balanced. I love the moderation of flavors and it seemed like toasted almonds attacked in waves giving a variety of toasted bread and some baked fruit flavors on the tongue and finish. Found this better than the "Gloomy Dragon" bottling. Had this at Bar Leichardt, Fukuoka, Japan.

Grade: B

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

🇭🇰 🇺🇸(LA, SF) -> 🇯🇵 (京都, 東京) -> 🇰🇷 (서울, 부산)