Mars Iwai 45 Japanese Whisky

I recall a comedy bit where someone discussed how certain people, when intoxicated, just recount past drunken episodes. This tasting note reminds me of that, as I'm recounting the last time I got considerably drunk. It's not a frequent occurrence; I'm usually good at stopping myself. However, this past Sunday coincided with Halloween and NFL game day. My father and brother-in-law were visiting for the game. My brother-in-law also joined for trick-or-treating with my wife and children. My role that evening was handing out candy, and dressed as a character known for his relaxed demeanor, White Russians did feature later, but not initially. Since both my father and brother-in-law enjoy scotch, and I had recently acquired the Laphroaig 2021 Cairdeas release, that was our starting point. To avoid finishing the bottle, I poured two measures of Cairdeas for the first half of the game. Afterward, we transitioned to Green Spot Montelena for a slightly less intense but still premium experience. My father contributed Glenmorangie 10, which we sampled after the Montelena. A glass of Zaya 16 Rum was added for good measure before we moved on to Lot No. 40 Rye. At this juncture, my father excused himself, stating he needed to remain sober for the trick-or-treaters. I perhaps should have followed his lead, but the evening was underway, and my brother-in-law was keen to continue, inquiring about other options. My experience with Japanese whisky is limited, largely due to its cost. Before trying Mars Iwai 45, my only other encounter was with Suntory Toki. While vacationing by the ocean this summer, I found a store with a wider selection and noticed Mars Iwai 45. Although I didn't purchase it on my initial visit (when I bought New Riff Bottled in Bond Rye, Compass Box Peat Monster, Busker Single Pot Still, and a store pick of EC Single Barrel), I made a note of it. A few days later, I traveled across a bridge to a neighboring town (as my home area is dry) to purchase it from Circle Liquors. Mars Iwai 45 had made the 2020 Whisky Advocate Top 20 list, and at $33.99, it was a bargain I wouldn't find back home. I added it to my collection, where it remained unopened until Halloween 2021, when my brother-in-law asked, "What else you got?" By this point, I wasn't planning to open a special bottle I'd been saving. My palate was already somewhat fatigued, and I wasn't in the right state to properly evaluate a high-quality spirit requiring deep consideration. I searched my collection and selected this bottle, which greatly pleased my brother-in-law. His enthusiasm was contagious. He exclaimed, "A vanilla bomb!" and "Complex!" I joined in, agreeing it was "Definitely delicious! Nice and fruity!" After we finished our glasses, I put the bottle away. Building on the whisky, I began making White Russians while he, my wife, his wife, and my sister-in-law, who had arrived, went out to collect candy. Rest assured, the others were not drinking, so my children were safe. Several days later, I realized that initial tasting impressions can be unreliable when affected by prior drinks. Is the Iwai complex? Delicious? A vanilla bomb? The answer is nuanced. Re-tasting it sober, I don't find it particularly complex. The Whisky Advocate review mentioned a bourbon-like quality, which I don't detect. If tasted blind, I would identify it as one of the finest blended Irish whiskies I've ever had, potentially surpassing Writer's Tears. It's certainly better than standard offerings like Tully or Jameson. This is primarily due to its dominant vanilla and fruit notes (apple and pear). My preference over most Irish blends stems from its lack of a harsh finish, unlike Tully and Jameson. While I appreciate the spice in Writer's Tears' finish, it costs significantly more. Comparing it to other Japanese whiskies, my understanding from reading is that it deviates from the typical Japanese profile, except for its delicate, smooth palate. If other Japanese whiskies are similar, I look forward to exploring them. Regarding the candy duty, some other fathers with their children understood my costume. The children, understandably, did not. Dressed in my bathrobe, pajama pants, and undershirt with sunglasses, I likely appeared as if I had just woken up with a hangover and had come out to hand out candy. My wife took over when she returned home. I went inside, and despite it only being 8 PM, I put on a Simpsons episode and fell asleep on the couch. That was the last time I got drunk, and it was enjoyable. The experience elevated my perception of this Iwai, perhaps beyond its actual merits, but there's nothing wrong with that. I had a fantastic time. The character abides, man. The character abides....

Corn, honey, and very ripe pear on the nose, with mango. The pear note is underdeveloped; it resembles the initial scent of a fresh pear – the skin, then the juicy flesh, and finally the airy, oxidizing bite. A specific variety like Bartlett might be identifiable with more expertise. Additionally, garden herbs and black tea are present. A significant amount of ethanol is noticeable but manageable. A second pour reveals a strong vanilla frosting aroma accompanied by a hint of shaving cream. On the palate, it's intensely sweet corn, honey cake, butterscotch, and toffee. A slight astringency touches the sides of the tongue. Caramel and honey candy emerge when air is drawn across the palate. Hints of dried fruit and perhaps a touch of coffee are detected. The finish offers mild spice with cinnamon, dark chocolate, honey-roasted almond, and coffee cake. The finish is notably long. This spirit offers a Japanese interpretation of bourbon, purportedly using a traditional wheated bourbon mash bill. While the exact proportions are unknown, it distinctly drinks like a wheater, almost resembling Maker's Mark with a few drops of water. It also possesses a classic Japanese characteristic of precise, well-defined notes without muddiness. An underlying herbal quality, reminiscent of young rye but more akin to tea, suggests a Japanese influence, possibly inspired by classic Scotches. The finish exhibits less heat than typically found in bourbon, possibly tailored for the Japanese market, as no particularly fiery Japanese whiskies come to mind. This muted heat could be a positive or negative depending on preference. Overall, it's an intriguing spirit with a fair price for its quality and unique profile. Worth purchasing a bottle or two.

This wasn't very high on my priority list, but I received it as a gift, so here we are. After some research, I'm pleased to find that Mars Shinshu Distillery operates independently and this isn't simply sourced whiskey. It's a NAS (No Age Statement) made with 70% corn and 30% malted barley, aged in bourbon barrels at 45% ABV. Let's give it a try. Nose: Slightly boozy. Malt and cereal grains. Notes of baked apple with cinnamon. Brown sugar, vanilla, and toffee. Hints of coconut and banana. Honey. Palate: Tastes of brown sugar oatmeal. Baked apple. Cinnamon. Sugar cookie, vanilla, and toffee. Plenty of malt. Honey, golden graham cracker. Sandalwood. Canned pears. Dried apricot and some peach. A bit of ethanol, but good flavor overall. Finish: Sugar cookie. Sandalwood. Caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Almond. Coconut. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, and nutmeg. The finish is relatively short, though it's pleasant while it lasts. This has definitely surpassed my expectations. It's clearly a young, potent whiskey, but it delivers a good amount of flavor. Sweet malty notes and some dried fruit create a pleasing profile. At $35, this is a great value for what I believe is authentic Japanese whisky. It would certainly benefit from more aging before bottling, but as it stands, it's decent stuff. I've rated it a 3.25, but considering the value for money, I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5.

Nose: Smells like dirt, sugar, and something crisp. Well-portioned. Hints of orange peel, caramel candy, dried grass, a pear, burnt sugar. The orange peel scent is forward and more intense than I've found in many whiskies, while the sugary scents of caramel candy and the earthy scents of dried grass trade places in the background. Faint traces of sulfur. The sulfur smell faded after the initial try. Palate: Tastes sweet, crisp, and piquant. Orange peel, preserved fruit, nectar, white chocolate, warm milk, botanical/pharmaceutical, green tea that's been steeped too long. The bitter green tea taste is less noticeable after the first sampling. The earthy notes from the aroma were absent. Once more, the crisp orange peel flavor was clear and mixed with sugary tastes. The spicy notes were unexpected. Finish: Earthy and a little sharp (bell pepper?). Brief and one-dimensional. This spirit is intended for cocktails, so I didn't anticipate much. The aroma is acceptable but lacks unique characteristics. The flavor is also acceptable, featuring a distinct white chocolate/warm milk taste, but it requires searching. The spiciness was somewhat surprising, resembling that of a bourbon. For my preference, the finish was somewhat wanting and leaned towards bitterness. It might work well in a sweet drink.

This is a subtle, exquisite find. It reminds me of a politician's ego after a significant loss. Its very pale hue, surprisingly so for a spirit from Japan, would not initially alarm any conservative group. Prepare yourselves as I describe this subtle, exquisite find. The aroma is mild and invigorating, featuring notes of sweet apple and berries, alongside a hint of peanut brittle. It's very delicate on the nose, as expected given its light color. The taste is also quite mild, yet I detect considerable depth. It has a silky texture and a lengthy finish that begins with a touch of richness and a candy apple flavor, not the genuine fruit. It concludes with a pleasant, drawn-out sweetness, free of any heat or spice. In summary, I enjoyed it, but it will not be joining my personal collection.

This whiskey's taste leans into a more grainy character, starting with wood dust, mint, and a touch of grain funk. It then moves into cereal tastes, unripe melon, and lemon peel, showing a strong spirit presence with little oak effect, suggesting it's young, with common notes of freshly mown grass and damp hay. The texture is okay but nothing special, and the alcohol level bumped up to 45% ABV keeps it from tasting watery, which might help it in mixed drinks. Still, even with the extra alcohol, the finish is surprisingly brief and can get bitter fast, changing from the grain and fruit notes of the smell and taste to hints of dark tea and buttery popcorn.