Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky
*please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING.
  • floral
  • fruit
  • vanilla
  • caramel
  • mint
  • oak
  • orange
  • demerara sugar
  • bitter

Mars Whisky

Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky (0.75l, 40%*) *please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary
Price $33.99

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Character Goatson

A corn-forward Whisky from Japan aged in ex-Bourbon casks for a Bourbon-inspired profile.

The Hombo family has been creating Wines and Spirits in Japan for more than 100 years. They added Whisky to their products in 1949. In 1984 they wanted to move the distilling operation to a cooler climate, so they closed their distillery in Kagoshima and built a new one high in the mountains of Nagano at an altitude of more than 2600 feet — the Mars Shinshu Distillery. But a few mishaps caused them to cease production in 1992. It opened again in 2011, and new stills were acquired in 2014. But their warehouse still contains hundreds of casks stretching back thirty years. Now at full production strength, this small distillery produces a range of sweet and peated Whiskies.

Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky is a "Bourbon-inspired" dram. The mash bill is approximately 75% corn and 25% malted barley to facilitate fermentation and open up the floral aromatics. The Spirit is aged in ex-Bourbon casks as well, lending even more Bourbon flavors to each sip. The resulting Spirit is bottle in a double-hopped bottle at 40% ABV.

Smartass Corner:
The Iwai line of Whiskies is named after Kiichiro Iwai. Although not famous in the West, Iwai is known as the "Silent Pioneer of Japanese Whisky" who mentored Masataka Taketsuru — founder of Nikka and Suntory.
*please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING.

Appearance / Color
Medium Amber

Nose / Aroma / Smell
On the nose you’ll find carnations and orchard fruits in addition to vanilla and caramel notes.

Flavor / Taste / Palate
The palate opens with menthol and vanilla extract over notes of wet oak, bitter orange, and burnt demerara sugar.

Finish
The finish is medium-length with a lingering heat.
Flavor Spiral TM
About the Flavor Spiral
What does Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.

Back to flavor spiral
  • floral
  • fruit
  • vanilla
  • caramel
  • mint
  • oak
  • orange
  • demerara sugar
  • bitter
Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky
Mars Whisky Mars Iwai Blue Label Whisky
Dog Dogson's Smartass corner
Character Dogson
The Highball brought Japanese Whisky back to life. Aside from some attention from overseas, Japanese Whisky consumption domestically was very low during the better part of the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 2008, when Suntory launched the Highball campaign featuring their Kakubin Whisky that things kicked off.
Japan is the second biggest producer of Single Malt Whisky in the world.
The two biggest Whisky producers in Japan are Nikka and Suntory, major rivals.
The two biggest Whisky producers in Japan and major rivals are Nikka and Suntory.
Japanese Single Malts, like Scotch, are double-distilled in pot stills. Grain Whiskies, on the other hand, are distilled in column stills.
It's not uncommon for Japanese Whisky to be aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Suntory conducted a research on how mizunara oak influences Whisky flavor and found out it adds coconut notes to it.
Similar drinks
Dog Dogson's Smartass corner
Character Dogson
The Highball brought Japanese Whisky back to life. Aside from some attention from overseas, Japanese Whisky consumption domestically was very low during the better part of the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 2008, when Suntory launched the Highball campaign featuring their Kakubin Whisky that things kicked off.
Japan is the second biggest producer of Single Malt Whisky in the world.
The two biggest Whisky producers in Japan are Nikka and Suntory, major rivals.
The two biggest Whisky producers in Japan and major rivals are Nikka and Suntory.
Japanese Single Malts, like Scotch, are double-distilled in pot stills. Grain Whiskies, on the other hand, are distilled in column stills.
It's not uncommon for Japanese Whisky to be aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Suntory conducted a research on how mizunara oak influences Whisky flavor and found out it adds coconut notes to it.
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