Shinshu Mars Distillery Komagatake "Nature of Shinshu" Kohiganzakura Cask Strength Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml)

This is the second single malt Komagatake in the "Nature of Shinshu" series which celebrates the seasons and plants around the distillery. Kohiganzakura pays tribute to the cherry blossom of the Nagano region with a specially created label by artist, Yoko Nomura. This new whisky (released in 2016) is a blend of slightly peated malts distilled in 2013 at the Shinshu distillery, some of which were aged in ex-Japanese wine barrels, previously used to age the wines of the Yamanashi region. Reportedly there's some 25-30 year old whisky included in the mix (distilled at the old site in Southern Japan).

The Shinshu distillery (aka "Mars"), founded in 1985 and in operation from 1985-1992 and then 2011 to present is actually Hombo Shuzo's third domestic distillery. The previous have been the Yamanashi Distillery (1960-1969) and the Mars Kagoshima Distillery (1978-1984). The main single malt brand from the current operation is sold under the 'Komagatake' label, named after a nearby mountain. It's available in a variety of single cask and natural strength expressions.