Mars Maltage Cosmo (700mL)

A tasty blend of Single Malts from Scotland and Japan.
 
The Hombo family has been creating wines and spirits in Japan for more than 100 years. They added Whisky to their products in 1949. In 1984 they wanted to move the distilling operation to a cooler climate, so they closed their distillery in Kagoshima and built a new one high in the mountains of Nagano at an altitude of more than 2600 feet — the Mars Shinshu Distillery. But a few mishaps caused them to cease production in 1992. It opened again in 2011, and new stills were acquired in 2014. But their warehouse still contain hundreds of casks stretching back thirty years. Now at full production strength, this small distillery produces a range of sweet and peated Whiskies for the Hombo brand portfolio.
 
Mars Maltage Cosmo was a HUGE hit when it was released at the 2015 Tokyo International Bar Show. The Hombo Family knew that they liked it, but the overwhelming popularity made them add it to their core line-up. 
 
This is technically a “Blended Malt” Whisky. That means that it is a blend of Single Malts from more than one distillery, but there are no grain spirits in the mix. In this case, it includes Single Malts imported from Scotland to supplement their own. The result is well-balanced and an easy sipper worth the dram.