Mars Tsunuki Single Malt Japanese Whisky 2022 Edition

Classification: Japanese Single Malt
Distillery: Mars Tsunuki Distillery
Mashbill: 100% lightly peated malted barley
Age: NAS
Proof: 100

This whisky feels like the new kid at school who already knows how to play three instruments, but still insists on sitting in the back row. Young, yes—but it’s got charm, confidence, and just enough mystery to make you want another pour.

On the nose, you get a soft curl of smoke wrapped around apricot, tinned peaches, cedar, and a touch of sweet tobacco. It’s like a fruit basket accidentally left too close to a campfire—strange, but somehow irresistible.

The palate strikes a delicate balance: bonfire smoke meets apple, blackcurrant, citrus, and maple syrup, with a side of black tea and cherry. Sweet, savory, smoky, and a little mineral—it’s less of a flavor “battle” and more of a polite roundtable discussion where everyone gets a turn.

The finish lingers with black fruit, charred oak, and citrus, reminding you that this isn’t a one-note whisky—it’s a conversation that leaves an echo.

All told, it’s a solid and promising release from a young distillery. A nuanced dram with enough fruit, smoke, and sweetness to please both the curious newcomer and the jaded aficionado. If this is their opening act, the headliner is going to be something special.