Mars ‘Tsunuki’ Peated Japanese Whisky

MarsTsunuki Peated is a single malt Japanese whisky that was distilled in 2016 and 2017 and bottled in 2020. It is produced at the recently reopened Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima and aged for 3-4 years in primarily bourbon and some sherry casks. With peat levels of 20 and 50 parts per million, this whisky has a smoky, peated character that is similar to a Highland Scotch. The nose is dominated by aromas of smoked maple syrup, wet campfire, and dried apricot, while the palate features prominent peat and a note of sandalwood. The finish is drying and showcases flavors of browned butter, stemmy herbs, wet gravel, and a hint of menthol. Mars Tsunuki Peated is non-chill filtered and has an alcohol content of 50% ABV. This is a limited release of 2100 bottles and is the second release from the newly reopened Mars Tsunuki Distillery, which is located in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima. The weather in this region is more humid and has greater temperature fluctuations than the Mars Shinshu distillery in Nagano, which adds diversity to the Mars whisky portfolio.