The
Mars distillery (Hombo Shinshu), which is located amongst the lush green
forests of Kagoshima and situated in the Japanese Alps, retains the title of
being Japan’s highest situated distillery in the midst of the nations handful
of brands. The distillery, which resumed distillation in February 2011, a good
nineteen years since its last distillation (1992), gave birth to some
remarkable new make (new pot – Heavily and Lightly Peated) last year in the
traditional Iwai-style: heavy and smoky.
This year
welcomes the distillery’s second distillation that makes way for the release of
a new heavily peated new make (new pot). Available in December, this new
release has a phenol content of 50 PPM, that’s one and a half times more than
last year’s distillation phenol content of 19 PPM. This new make is a tell tale
sign of things to come (single malt whisky) and what the distillery is capable
of. Hombo Shinshu gives an indication that this year’s new make (New Pot
Heavily Peated) will be matured in Oak barrels for three years, something that
we have seen a lot of lately with some fantastic results.
The Mars
distillery’s New Pot Heavily Peated (9-months-old) that was distilled in March
and bottled in November this year (2012) will be released December 3. It is
bottled at 60% in a stylish 200ml decanter (similar to last year’s tasty treat)
with an affordable retail price of 1,890 yen (in Japan). The bottle outrun has
increased compared to last years release (864) to 1,100 bottles making it arguably
very limited. Watch this space for details of where you can purchase the
release in Kansai as well as news of other Mars new pot editions.
Hi Clint,
ReplyDeleteshould be pretty big as the HP from last year was pretty pungent at 19PPM. Then again PPM isn't necessarily going to represent what the end result will taste like in the glass in my opinion.
Hi Brian, the 2012 HP, is quite pungent. I tasted it at Whisky History, it was in a clean skin green bottle (sample bottle) with just 50PPM written on a white label. I didn't even consider that this was the "new product" at the time. I compared it with the 2011 HP, certainly a difference and not just the PPM's but the end result in the glass (well those small plastic cups that were used). Both versions (2011/2012) are lovely new make, I remember thinking that the 2012 HP was far from a 9 month old clear spirit, it was like a matured malt. I've never really got into new make...however, this is the exception. I've got my name down for this and look forward to sharing the experience.
DeleteIt appears this New Pot may make an appearance at the Whisky Featival Tokyo 2012 on December 2, the day before the official release in participating stockists. For those going to the festival this Heavily Peated New Pot at 50PPM is well worth it all.
ReplyDelete