My first Mars Japanese whisky is this lovely "Komagatake", which translates into "Horse Mountain". This is a 2020 limited edition, which has received very good critics and scores. I managed to get a sample, lets see how was it. Dark gold color, botted at 50%abv.
On the nose, it is a little hard to define. The first aroma is like a peach syrup, with a thick caramel mixed with some hay/dry brown grass note. Definitively sweet, mostly syrupy. Honey. Cough remedy. Some pepper spice. I have to do a lot of work here to identify the aromas, it feels like eveything is stacked in disorder. Recently baked brownies. The most syrupy whisky aroma ever; very thick. A very clean orange note has appeared after 5 minutes. After a first sip the brownie aroma has exploded, it is amazing.
On the palate, it is not very complex, but very enjoyable. Dry peaches, honey, cough syrup. Peach peel. A second sip was much more sugary.
Aftertaste was all about tobacco, salty and peppery finish. Definitively grassy, hints of chocolate and malted barley.
Overall, this is a solid, fancy dram. Not overly complex but fairly enjoyable. I don't think it is changing anyone's life forever, but if you can find it, grab a glass of it. Interesting stuff, my score for it is 88 over 100.