Mars “Twin Alps” Blended Whisky 750ml

This Twin Alps blended Japanese Whisky from Mars Shinshu Distillery is made in Japan’s highest whisky distillery, located 800 meters above sea level. It is made with crisp alpine water and aged in bourbon barrels, and it has flavors of mild spice, wood, fruit, and vanilla. The nose is malty, caramel, biscuit, and cinnamon, while the tongue is full-bodied with apple, honey, pepper, and grain. Perfect on its own or with a standard highball combination of soda and ice.

Mars Shinshu (the full name) is a three-hour trip northwest of Tokyo towards the Southern Alps. The distillery is located at 800 meters (2625 feet), making it the highest distillery in Japan. It was known as Mars distillery when it first debuted in 1985, employing stills from a defunct distillery called Yamananashi.

The distillery then closed in 1992, only to return in 2011. It has recently been remodeled and now appears to be quite modern and tidy. The distillery is attempting to create a cleaner wort (beer mix) in order to create a lighter and purer spirit. Barrels are stored on-site and in other parts of Japan to help with temperature fluctuations.