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Mars

Hombo Shuzo Co. was founded back in 1872 by Honbu Matsusa as a small producer of alcoholic beverages, primarily as a Japanese shochu maker. It wasn’t until 1949 that the company acquired a licence to produce whisky in Kagoshima Distillery, in the southeast corner of Kyushu. Hombo Shuzo stayed in the southernmost whisky distillery in Japan until 1984, when it moved its whisky-making operation to Shinshu Distillery*, situated gloriously between Japan’s soaring Southern Alps and the towering Central Alps in Miyata city in the Nagano prefecture.

Complete with a stunning view of the imperious Mt. Komagatake at just over 2,600 feet (798 meters) above sea level, not only is Shinshu Distillery one of the highest altitude whisky distilleries currently in production globally, but it's also the absolute highest in Japan. This location wasn’t chosen for its picturesque views however, but because Hombo Shuzo wanted its whisky to be affected by the more moderate levels of humidity, which would prolong maturation, and the high-quality water source.

While sluggish demand for whisky in this era led to a temporary halting of production in 1992, normal service was resumed in 2012, and since then Mars whisky has done very well for itself. The most notable product to come out of this distillery is Komagatake, a single malt whisky named after the most imposing of the many nearby mountains; and Mars Maltage Cosmo, which was introduced to the market in July 2015 as a homage to the distillery’s location, referring to the sky that can be seen at night when looking out from the aforementioned Mt. Komagatake.

*I’ve called it Shinshu Distillery, but the truth is you may know it by another name. The distillery is often called Shinshu, or Shinshu Mars, or just Mars, or Hombo Mars - it’s all a tad confusing. So, let’s clear things up. The official name of the distillery is Shinshu, hence why I called it that. However, it’s owned by Hombo Shuzo (sometimes titled as Hombo Brewing Co.) and the whisky produced is sold under the brand name Mars Whisky.

Special Offer

Mars Komagatake Single Malt (2021 Edition)

70cl, 48%

A superb single malt, the Mars Komagatake 2021 Edition is a yearly offering of their characteristic expression. Distilled and matured at the Mars Shinsu distillery in the village of Miyada and…  More info

Mars Komagatake Single Malt (2021 Edition)
1
$147.70
$127.33
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Mars Tsunuki 2022 Edition

70cl, 50%

From Mars Tsunuki comes the 2022 Edition single malt Japanese whisky, and we're the exclusive retailer in the UK! Founded in 2016 by renowned distillers Hombo Shuzo, Mars Tsunuki is still in its…  More info

Mars Tsunuki 2022 Edition
1
$137.52

Mars Kasei

70cl, 40%

Alas, this whisky isn't really from the planet Mars, but from the Mars Shinshu distillery, which is just as exciting! It is Japan's highest whisky distillery at just under 800 metres, so it's nearly…  More info

Mars Kasei
3
$42.74
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Special Offer

Mars Maltage Cosmo

70cl, 43%

Mars Maltage Cosmo is a blended malt featuring whisky from the little-known Japanese distillery Shinshu, as well as whiskies from undisclosed Scottish distilleries. An intriguing expression...  More info

Mars Maltage Cosmo
14
$59.54
$55.97
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Mars Komagatake x Chichibu Malt Duo

70cl, 54%

A really rather interesting blended malt whisky here from Japan, the Komagatake x Chichibu Malt Duo combines single malts from the Shinshu Distillery and the Chichibu Distillery! Thrilling to see two…  More info

Mars Komagatake x Chichibu Malt Duo
$508.31

Mars Maltage Cosmo – Manzanilla Cask Finish

70cl, 42%

From Japan's Mars comes a lip-smacking release from the Cosmo range – this edition of the stellar* blended malt whisky has been given a finishing period in Manzanilla sherry casks. This has really…  More info

Mars Maltage Cosmo – Manzanilla Cask Finish

Mars Maltage Komagatake 10 Year Old

72cl, 40%

An interesting bottling of 10 year old single malt whisky from the Mars Maltage Komagatake series, presented in a rather handsome ceramic bottle. Ought to be a cool collectible for fans of Japanese…  More info

Mars Maltage Komagatake 10 Year Old

Mars Maltage Cosmo - Wine Cask Finish

70cl, 43%

It's a wine cask finished edition of Mars Maltage Cosmo! The blended malt features whisky from the Japanese Shinshu distillery alongside whiskies from undisclosed Scottish distilleries, too, and was…  More info

Mars Maltage Cosmo - Wine Cask Finish
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