Whisky, 'Iwai Rye Style', Mars Whisky

• Rye-forward blended whisky produced by Mars Komagatake (fka Mars Shinshu) in Nagano, Japan • A blend of Mars “Iwai” whisky and American straight rye whiskey distilled at an undisclosed Kentucky distillery • Iwai whisky is a blend of 70% corn and 30% unpeated malted barley; barley is distilled twice in Miyake copper pot stills • American rye mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley • Iwai whisky aged in ex-bourbon barrels; rye aged in new American oak • Non-age statement • Vatting is briefly rested in stainless steel before bottling • Faint aromas of spent fireworks mingle with red fruit, hazelnut skin, Grape-Nuts cereal, hot cocoa, marasca cherry, and rosemary resin on the nose; the palate evolves into Cocoa Pebbles cereal and black tea with a finish of gooseberries and light char • 50% ABV This exciting counterpart to Iwai 45—Mars’s celebrated homage to bourbon—blends Iwai distillate from the Komagatake distillery with 95/5 rye from Kentucky, resulting in a spirit that praises both components while creating something entirely new. With rye notes that push beyond the grain’s classic spice with complementary, chocolatey depth, and an ABV that lends structure to a wide variety of cocktailing applications, this expression is sure to become a mixing staple and intuitive sipper while offering a new bridge between iconic whisk(e)y styles.