The Honbo Brewery, which had been striving to make shochu, a Japanese distilled spirit, in Kagoshima, obtained a license to produce whisky in 1949. Since then, the company has held on to the dream of “someday making real whisky that takes full advantage of the Japanese climate.
After several years of whisky production in Kagoshima, in 1960, he established the Mars Yamanashi Winery, a factory for wine and whisky production in Yamanashi. Then, in order to engage in whisky production in earnest, he searched for an even more ideal location.
The natural conditions for whisky making are very demanding: cold climate with clean air, moderate humidity, and good quality water.
In 1985, after searching for land that met these conditions, Mars Shinshu Distillery was established at an altitude of 798 meters at the foot of Komagatake Mountain in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, in search of the best environment for whisky production.
In 1992, distillation was suspended due to a slump in demand for whisky. In 2009, when the demand for whisky was recovering and Japanese whisky was gaining worldwide recognition, we decided to resume distilling and started again in February 2011.
In September 2020, the distillery underwent a complete renewal for the first time in 35 years. The investment will be approximately 1.2 billion yen.
From May 2019, a new whisky distillation building (including a barrel cellar) will be constructed to renovate aging facilities, improve the barrel cellar facilities with an eye to increasing whisky production, and provide tours of whisky production, as well as a visitor building to sell original whisky and goods, while existing facilities and equipment are renovated.
The new whisky distillation building has a total floor area of 1,996 square meters (including the barrel cellar, which will hold approximately 2,500 barrels), and the visitor’s building has a floor area of 746 square meters.
Reference: Hombo Brewery official website
IPA Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky
“Single malt whisky Komagatake IPA Cask Finish” is a medium dark beer, India Pale Ale (IPA), brewed with plenty of hops at Minami Shinshu Beer Komagatake Brewery and finished in empty aged barrels. It is a single malt whisky.
It has a refreshing aroma reminiscent of mint and citrus, a fruity and clear sweetness like grapefruit and lime, and a bitter, cool, hop-derived aftertaste, making it a perfect match for a highball.
Citation: Single malt Komagatake IPA Cask Finish Bottled in 2025 | Japanese whisky | Hombo Shuzo official website
At “BAR SHINKAI”, each glass costs 2,970 yen (45ml), 1,980 yen (30ml), and 990 yen (15ml).
For more information about Single malt whisky Komagatake IPA cask finish 2025 please see this article.
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