Mars Iwai 45 Blended Whiskey 750ml

Mars Whisky operates under the Hombo family, distillers in Japan for more than a century, who added whisky to their portfolio in 1949. In 1984 the family relocated production to the Nagano Alps, building the Shinshu distillery at over 2,600 feet, making it the highest whisky distillery in the country. The Iwai line honors Kiichiro Iwai, a lesser known but influential figure in the early days of Japanese whisky making, whose guidance helped shape Mars's approach to distilling.

Iwai 45 leans into a distinctly American-inspired style, built from a mash bill dominated by corn at roughly 75%, with the remainder malted barley, including a portion of Hakumai barley more traditionally used in sake production. The whisky matures in ex-bourbon casks, and the surrounding mountain environment, along with mineral-rich water drawn from the granite of Mount Komagatake, shapes a profile the distillery describes as stewed fruit. Bottled at 45% ABV, it was designed with cocktail use specifically in mind.

Fresh apple and pear mingle with vanilla and light oak on the nose, joined by cinnamon and a whisper of cherry blossom. The palate turns smooth and fruit forward, with caramel, honey, and toasted almond layered beneath gentle spice. The finish brings dried apricot and citrus zest fading into soft oak. It shines in a highball or an Old Fashioned.