The Mars Shinshu Mars Tsunuki Aging

Mars Tsunuki Aging is a single malt distilled at Hombo Shuzo's Tsunuki distillery in Kagoshima prefecture and transferred to Mars Shinshu in Miyada, Nagano prefecture, for maturation in the cool Central Alps climate. The 2019 European release was matured in Ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength at 56%, making it one of the more powerful expressions in the Tsunuki Aging line.

Unlike the 2020 domestic bottling, this European release shows a more developed and nuanced profile, with citrus, honey, dried fruit, new wood and vanilla all present, suggesting Ex-Bourbon wood is integrating with a spirit that has had time to settle into its character. The interplay between Tsunuki's warm Kyushu distillation and the cool Nagano maturation environment gives this a distinct sense of contrast and tension. At 56% cask strength the texture is full and generous, with the vanilla and honey from the Ex-Bourbon wood carrying the finish.