Mars Whisky Iwai Tradition

Mars Iwai ‘Tradition’ is a characterful Japanese blend from Shinshu in the Japanese Alps, crafted with granite-filtered mountain water and matured chiefly in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. A softly peated, malt-forward style brings honeyed fruit, gentle spice and polished oak into elegant harmony—refined for sipping, versatile for gifting.

Tasting Notes & Experience

Aromas of wildflower honey, clove and soft peat drift into nougat, milk chocolate and orange zest. The palate opens silky and malt-rich with vanilla sponge, maple and toasted cedar, threaded with citrus and a wisp of smoke. Finishes clean and persistent, cinnamon-dusted and gently bittersweet, with lingering oak warmth.

Key Details

• Distillery: Mars Shinshu (Hombo Shuzo)
• Region: Nagano, Japan
• Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
• ABV: 40%
• Volume: 750ml
• Maturation: Primarily ex-bourbon & ex-sherry; select batches include ex-wine/port & new oak (batch dependent).
• Serve: Neat, with a splash of water, classic highball, or stirred cocktails

Cocktail Pairings

Elegant in a Japanese Highball (lemon twist), or try a Honey Highball to amplify the whisky’s sweetness. Stir into an Old Fashioned or Manhattan for malt-forward depth, shake a Whisky Sour for bright refreshment, or build a Tokyo Sidecar with yuzu and orange liqueur for a citrus-perfumed aperitif.

Craftsmanship & Story

Blended and bottled at Mars Shinshu, high in the Japanese Alps, Iwai ‘Tradition’ is proofed with granite-filtered Alpine water from Mt. Kiso-Komagatake for clarity and finesse. The style is malt-led with a touch of peat, shaped by careful vatting of casks sourced from bourbon and sherry traditions.

Special Features

Malt-forward blend (approx. 70% very lightly peated malt; 30% corn), double-distilled malt in copper pot stills, and a cask program centered on ex-bourbon & ex-sherry for layered sweetness, spice and gentle smoke—resulting in a versatile, approachable Japanese whisky with real character.

Recognition & Accolades

Consistently praised for balance and value, with medals and strong critic scores:

• Silver – International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), 2013
• Silver Outstanding – IWSC, 2013
• Silver – IWSC, 2012
• Silver – New Zealand Spirits Awards, 2022
• 4★ – Difford’s Guide (tasting panel)
• 4★ – The Whiskey Reviewer

These plaudits highlight Iwai ‘Tradition’ as a smooth, subtly smoky everyday sipper with polished cask complexity.

Perfect for Gifting or Sipping

Beautifully balanced and stylish in the glass—an easy-to-love Japanese whisky for birthdays, thank-yous and corporate gifts, or a dependable house pour.

Fast, Secure NZ-Wide Delivery

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