Mars Shinshu distillery is located high in the Japanese Alps in Nagano Prefecture at around 800m above sea level.

Next door, there is a beer brewery called Minami Shinshu Brewery. Pure mineral water from the mountain is used for both whisky and craft beer making and both facilities are surrounded by beautiful clean air.  Short hot summers encourage whisky maturation, and long cold winter gives whisky slow and gentle maturation as well as a break.

After 3 years of aging in traditional oak barrels, this selected single malt whisky is then further matured in casks that were used in the production of India Pale Ale at the brewery next door.

This extra aging provides a subtle and unique essence of beer character to the whisky.

Citrus fruits and fresh herbs on the nose with hints of vanilla which comes from the IPA casks. The palate shows summer citrus flavours such as grapefruit and orange, followed by a sweet malt character.

The finish is clean and crisp like the bitterness of a beer.