Tradition

About

Mars Iwai Tradition is named after Kiichiro Iwai, a pioneering figure in early Japanese whisky who shaped the spirit's development in the early 20th century. Iwai was the mentor of Masataka Taketsuru and sent him to Scotland to master whiskymaking — a decision that would define Japanese whisky's future. Distilled at the Komagatake distillery in Nagano, nestled in the Shinshu mountains, this blended whisky carries the legacy of its namesake. The blend marries malted barley and corn, aged in ex-bourbon, sherry, and American oak casks, then finished for 12 months in wine casks. The result is a soft, layered whisky with balanced tannins and woody aromatics tempered by sweet vanilla and fruit notes. On the palate, Tradition opens with orange, rose, and vanilla custard, followed by dates. The finish brings peach skin and bitter citrus pith, with rose lingering. This is not a complex dram, but rather a gentle, well-composed whisky that honours both its namesake and Japan's whisky heritage.

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