The second bottling from the Nature of Shinshu series produced by the eponymous Japanese distillery. The Kohiganzakura honours the cherry blossom prevalent in Japan (and around the distillery itself, in particular!). It's a lightly peated expression, with parts of it matured in casks that previously matured Japanese wine.
The first bottling in Mars's new Nature of Shinshu range – each entry is named after the flora local to the eponymous distillery. Rindo means 'gentian' and has a distinctly aromatic character thanks to ageing exclusively in a combination of ex-bourbon, sherry and Japanese wine casks.
This Japanese blended whisky comes from both malt and grain. It's distilled at Japan’s highest distillery, Mars Shinshu Distillery, founded by the Hombo family, located at 798 meters, in a mountain range of Nagano. The whisky is named after Kiichiro Iwai, known as “The Silent Pioneer of Japan Whisky,” and the former mentor of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and Suntory Whisky.
Situated at 2,600 feet in between the Central and Southern Japanese Alps, Mars Shinshu is Japan’s highest whisky distillery. “Iwai” (pronounced like the vowels E-Y), is named after Kiichiro Iwai, one of the grandfathers of Japanese whisky. This whisky is made with majority corn balanced with light malt, aged in ex bourbon barrels. Ideal for daily sipping, or in spirit forward cocktails like old fashioned, boulevardiers, or mint juleps. Great intro to the Japanese whisky category and also perfect for bourbon drinkers.