Mars Shinshu Distillery Iwai Japanese Whisky

Pairs with: Glazed pork belly, fresh sashimi, light fruit tarts, or creamy white chocolate

Good for: Sitting poolside on a scorching day, or acting as the ultimate, refreshing spark for your next casual gathering

Cocktails: Classic Japanese Highball, Iwai Whiskey Sour, or a Boulevardier

I am from: Miyada (Nagano Prefecture), Japanese Alps, Japan

The Story: Named after Kiichiro Iwai, a silent pioneer who drew up the blueprints for Japan’s very first whisky stills, this innovative spirit is a benchmark producer from Mars Shinshu—Japan's highest-altitude distillery, nestled at over 2,600 feet in the snowy Nagano Alps. The alpine location is legendary because it holds the spirit's most unique mountain-maturation heritage, thanks to pure water aquifers filtered through ancient granite. Freezing winters and cool alpine summers blanket the high-altitude rickhouses, slowing down maturation to lock in vibrant freshness while the mountain terrain infuses the liquid with an unforgettable crisp-meets-finesse character. Crafted with a bourbon-inspired mash bill of 70% corn and 30% malted barley and matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks, it beautifully bridges American craft soul with meticulous Japanese precision.

Why You'll Love Me: It balances refreshing fruitiness with an incredibly seductive, sweet and creamy edge. Matured entirely with zero sherry or heavy peat intervention, it bursts from the glass with lively aromas of fresh Red Delicious apple skin, wild honey, sweet vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon. On the palate, it delivers a beautiful, silky medium body that is instantly cut by a laser-beam core of ripe pear and English breakfast tea. It gracefully sweeps into a long, complex finish defined by a mouthwatering buttery smoothness, a touch of brûléed sugar, and a signature hint of clean, lingering oak wood.