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Mars Iwai 45 Japanese Whisky
Blended — Nagano, Japan
Reviewed
January 27, 2022 (edited January 28, 2022)
N: Corn, honey, very ripe pear, and mango. The pear needs more: it's like taking a first bite of a fresh pear - first the skin as you approach, then the juice as the flesh gives way, and finally the open, aerated, already oxidizing bite. If I knew my pears better, I feel like I could name a specific type - Bartlett, maybe? Moving on: some garden herbs and black tea. Good bit of ethanol, but it's tolerable. 2nd pour brings a huge vanilla frosting note with a side of shaving cream.
P: Super sweet corn, honey cake, butterscotch, toffee. Bit of astringency on the sides of the tongue. Caramel and honey candy when you draw air across it. Some dried fruit and maybe a dash of coffee. Finish is lightly spicy with cinnamon dark chocolate, honey roasted almond, and coffee cake. Surprisingly long finish too.
This is a Japanese take on bourbon. Supposedly uses a classic wheated bourbon mash bill - what that means exactly in ratios, I don't know, but it does undeniably drink a bit like a wheater. In fact, couple of drops of water felt like it almost turned into Maker's. But it also has that classic Japanese character where the notes are precise, defined, nothing is muddled. And there's an underlying herbal nature that reminds a bit of young rye, but really feels more like tea, and that strikes me as a Japanese touch (influenced by some classic Scotches). Finally, the finish heat is far below average for a bourbon and that feels a bit like tuning for the Japanese market - just can't recall a particularly hot Japanese whisky I've had. Muted heat may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your tastes. All in all, this is interesting and the price is fair for the quality and unique experience. Worth grabbing a bottle or two.
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35.0
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Bottle
Mission Wine & Spirits
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