Whisky, 'Iwai' [Blue Label], Mars Whisky

• Blended Japanese whisky produced at Mars Komagatake (fka Mars Shinshu) in Nagano, Japan • Blend of 70% corn and 30% unpeated malted barley • Barley distilled twice in copper pot stills • Aged between 2–5 years in ex-bourbon barrels; non-age statement • Proofed with granite-filtered Alpine water from nearby Mt. Kiso-Komagatake • Delicate nose of cinnamon and brûléed sugar; palate of Red Delicious apple skin and English breakfast tea with pleasant tannin on the finish • 40% ABV Mars Shinshu’s core blended whisky, named for Japanese whisky pioneer Kiichiro Iwai (pronounced E-Y), is inspired by the great whiskeys of America but retains a distinctly Japanese finesse. This whisky is perfect for classic Japanese highballs.