Mars Malt 25, The Malt of Kagoshima, H. Bolina, "Lost Butterfly", Pappilon Series, 1984, Sherry Casks, 59/111, 45% abv.

This bottling was distilled in 1984, making it a product of the old distillery "Kagoshima" (now called Tsunuki) before Mars moved east to form "Shinsu". The story was that 5 sherry casks were vatted after 20 years and then aged again for an additional 5 years (again in sherry casks?), before being released as 3,018 bottles of "The Malt of Kagoshima". However, there was supposedly some leftovers from that vatting that got lost in storage only to be discovered in 2015... 6 years after the original release. So in December 2015, Mars released it under their Pappilon Series, calling it "Lost Butterfly" for the story it held. We can talk about the pappilon series in another post. How much detail am I missing?

Nose: wood, short initial aromas of fruit, back end of old steamed lotus leaves.

Palate: overoaked/wet old steamed lotus leaves initially, but it becomes very sweet. Generally sweet, but not overwhelming.

Finish: short, honey.

Pretty simple juice. I think I screwed up though since this one has such a low abv compared to everything else I've had. The same story of honey like sweetness, but those tannic, over-oaked, wet old steamed lotus leaves show up here and there. Interestingly, I think it is in the same field as the few "The Malt of Kagoshima" I have tried, which explains a lot. Also similar to the last pour of Hanyu 23. Can't say I enjoyed it.

Grade: D, but I think perhaps due to drink sequence.

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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