Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky
Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky
  • caramel caramel
  • honey honey
  • spicy spicy
  • cherry cherry
  • sherry sherry
  • ginger ginger
  • pepper pepper
  • peaty peaty
  • grape grape
  • caramel caramel
  • honey honey
  • spicy spicy
  • cherry cherry
  • sherry sherry
  • ginger ginger
  • pepper pepper
  • peaty peaty
  • grape grape

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky

750ml
40% ABV
$43.99
Earn
516
points
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  • BrandMars Whisky
  • CategoryJapanese Whisky
  • CountryJapan
  • DistilleryMars Whisky
  • Style Japanese Blended Malt Whisky
  • Alcohol 40%
California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 Warning.

A harmonious Whisky that would make Iwai-san proud. Mars Shinshu has taken Japanese Whisky to new heights, literally.

Whisky-making at 798 meters (just over 2,600 feet), Shinshu is the highest Whisky distillery in Japan. Mars Shinshu is owned by the Hombo's, a family Japanese brewers that have been in the business of distillation for over a century.

They eventually took a shot at Whisky, making it a part of their production in 1949. They decided to move the distillery to the idyllic alpine village Miyada. This high altitude and cool climate provides excellent Whisky-making conditions.

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky is named after Kiichiro Iwai, also known as “The Silent Pioneer of Japanese Whisky,” Iwai-san and former mentor of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and Suntory Whisky. Iwai sent Taketsuru to Scotland to learn the art of Whisky-making. And he became the first Japanese to learn the art, Taketsuru returned to Japan, presenting a Whisky-making report - the Taketsuru Notes - to Iwai.

This special Japanese blend is distilled with the waters that pass through granite rock, which is high in natural minerals. Iwai is a blended Whisky, made of both single malts, grains, and blended Whiskies.

This mixture is then aged in a combination of ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry, and ex-Wine casks, creating a perfect trifecta of harmonious flavor. Shinshu’s Whiskies are quality manifestations of their longstanding history of distilling. “Kame no kou yori toshi no kou": “Wisdom gotten from age is better than the shell of a tortoise.” With age comes wisdom, and damn good Whisky.

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky guided tasting: Brad Japhe takes us on a tasting adventure through the Whiskeyverse of Advent Calendar 2021.

Appearance / Color
Dark caramel

Nose / Aroma / Smell
Grapes, Sherry, peat

Flavor / Taste / Palate
Peppery, cherry, toffee, honey, ginger spice

Finish
Long, crisp, rounded

This product is available in: CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WA, WI, WY, DC.

Note: Once an order has been safely & successfully delivered, we do not accept returns due to change of heart or taste. Due to state regulations, we cannot accept the return of alcohol purchased by a customer in error.

Mars Shinshu Iwai Tradition Whisky
$43.99
Earn
516
points

Customer Reviews

Based on 191 reviews
19%
(37)
45%
(86)
27%
(52)
4%
(8)
4%
(8)
J
Jason

Nose is sherry and some plum with a little spice. Taste has a hint of spice with some sweet plum and ginger. Finish is crisp. A decent and somewhat different dram.

J
Jason

Sherry and caramel followed by slight smoke and peat with a hint of pepper.

M
Michael
Pretty Darn Good!
J
John

A fun whiskey that doesn't move the needle.

H
HJ

Pretty good, but not my favorite. The honey and plum and ginger are nice. However there is a little too much burn for me.