The Mars Tsunuki distillery will be in its sixth season in 2022.
After the first release “Tsunuki THE FIRST” and the second release “Tsunuki Peated” , this will be the release of the “Single Malt Tsunuki 2022 Edition”.
You can apply for the lottery sale at the official website from 1/24 to 1/31. If you haven’t had a chance to buy it yet, why don’t you apply for it? The application page is here.
1. Manufacturer
Hombo Shuzo Co.
| Established | 1872 |
| Head office location | 3-27, Minamisakae, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-0122, Japan |
| Owned distilleries | Mars Shinshu distillery, Mars Tsunuki distillery |
2. Distillery
Mars Tsunuki Distillery
| Location | 6594 Tsunuki, Kaseda, Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, 899-3611, Japan |
| Start of operation | 2016 |
Tsunuki , Kaseda, Minami-Satsuma City. It is located in the southwest of the Satsuma Peninsula in a mountainous area full of greenery. Mars Tsunuki Distillery, the southernmost whisky distillery on the mainland. It’s a place where you can find the best of both worlds.
Tsunuki, located in the southwestern part of the Satsuma Peninsula, is in a long basin along the Kaseda River, a tributary of the Manose River. Surrounded by the mountains of Mt. Kurata (475m) to the east and Mt. Nagaya (513m) to the west, the topography of the area is basin-like, so the summers are hot and the winters are cold, which is extremely harsh in southern Satsuma.
The area has a natural environment that is a “blessing” with good water resources (Mt. Kurata spring water), and the cultivation of oranges, known as “Tsunuki oranges” is flourishing by making effective use of the mountain slopes.
Tsunuki, blessed with a mild climate and good water resources, is the birthplace of the Hombo Sake Brewery. It has been more than a hundred years since the brewery began making shochu using Satsuma sweet potatoes, one of Satsuma’s most famous specialties.
Reference: Mars Tsunuki Distillery official website
3. Product name and photo
Single Malt Tsunuki 2022 Edition
4. Characteristics
“Single Malt Tsunuki” is made at Mars Tsunuki Distillery, which is located in the green mountains in the southwest of the Satsuma Peninsula, blessed with a climate with temperature differences unique to the basin and high quality spring water from the Kurata mountain range.
The “2022 Edition” is a single malt whisky released in 2022, vatted mainly from malt liquor matured in bourbon barrels.
The 2022 Edition is a single malt whisky released in 2022.
Reference: Hombo Shuzo Official Online Store / Single Malt Tsunuki 2022 Edition
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Nose | Gorgeous, ripe, sweet fruit aroma, baked sweets |
| Taste | Passion fruit acidity, chocolate |
| Aftertaste | The sweet aroma of bourbon barrels lingers for a long time. |
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 50% |
| alcohol category | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Barrel type | Bourbon barrel, etc. |
| Contents | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited edition of 35,800 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 8,580 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | January 18, 2022 |
5. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
6. Price
6-1. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
| Product name | Single Malt Tsunuki 2022 Edition |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 8,580 yen each (tax included) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is Around 11,000 yen to 13,000 yen . (*As of January 26, 2022)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo Auction
The winning bid price on Yahoo Auction is Lowest bidder: 9,500 yen, highest bidder: 20,000 yen, average bidder: 13,166 yen (*Statistics for the past 180 days as of January 26, 2022)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
It is also sold on mail order sites at Around 12,000 yen to 14,000 yen It is also sold at (*As of January 26, 2022)
6-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR SHINKAI”, which is operated by this site, it is offered at 1 glass, 45ml: 2,640 yen, 30ml: 1,760 yen, 15ml: 880 yen (*As of January 26, 2022) Bar Shinkai, which is operated by this site, offers it at
7. Summary
Compared to Tsunuki the First, it has an overwhelmingly gorgeous and sweet aroma. The sweetness of the fruit and the woody-sweet taste derived from bourbon barrels combine to create a pleasant aftertaste.
This is one of the bottles that makes me feel that the quality of Tsunuki distillery’s raw materials is improving. Among the whiskys released by craft distilleries in recent years, I felt that this is a whisky with a pretty good cosmetic value.
This is a whisky that I would like you to try, as it is relatively limited and easy to get hold of.
Please check out the other articles about Hombo Shuzo and Tsunuki Distillery.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
