Mars Tsunuki 8 Year Old K&L Exclusive 1st-Fill Sherry #T326
Deep Dive into Mars Tsunuki's Single Cask Charm: K&L Exclusive Heavy Peated Sherry Whisky
K&L Spirits Buyer David Othenin-Girard shared his unique experience collaborating with Mars Tsunuki, describing this cask selection as one of the most cherished moments in his nearly twenty-year career. The Tsunuki Distillery, part of Hombo Shuzo, was established in Kagoshima in 2016, yet the site carries the deep history of Hombo Shuzo, including old grain stills and World War II-era cellar warehouses.
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After touring the distillery and meeting with Chief Distilling Manager and Blender Tatsuro Kusano, Othenin-Girard tasted a series of exceptional casks. When he mentioned that many customers love heavy peated, heavy sherry styles—a profile becoming rarer in Scotland—Mr. Kusano immediately pulled out two samples described as "dark as night."
The "BBQ Beast" from Kagoshima
One of the casks performed exactly as expected, described as a "bold, powerful, and unapologetic beast" with intense BBQ notes. Othenin-Girard felt honored and grateful, seeing it as a reflection of Mr. Kusano's generosity. This single cask was aged for an additional year after selection, making the flavors even more mellow. During bottling, the distillery even showed the dense oils suspended in the whisky and asked if filtration was needed; K&L insisted on keeping all that "cloudy magic."
A New Chapter in Japanese Whisky History
K&L notes that Mars Tsunuki is a vital chapter in Japanese Whisky history, with Hombo Shuzo dating back to 1872. While Komagatake is the spiritual heart of Mars, Tsunuki represents its future. The Tsunuki Distillery utilizes Kagoshima's hot and humid climate to explore new expressions of Japanese malt whisky.
This exclusive single cask is a perfect example of the distillery's willingness to push boundaries: distilled in 2017 using malt peated to 50 ppm and matured in a high-quality First-fill Sherry Hogshead. This combination of heavy peat and sherry is extremely rare in Japan. After nearly nine years of maturation in Tsunuki's hot cellars, it was bottled at natural cask strength and non-chill filtered, showcasing the distillery's bold determination.
📅 Release Date: 2026-01-06
🔗 Source: https://www.whiskyintelligence.com/2026/01/mars-tsunuki-8-year-old-kl-exclusive-1st-fill-sherry-cask-t326-japanese-single-malt-whiskey-news/