The official website of Hombo Shuzo Co. has released information on the release of “Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition” (limited quantities).
The release date is September 16. Limited to 60,000 bottles.
Hombo Shuzo official mail order SHOP The lottery is already available at
The deadline to apply for the lottery is September 13, 10:00.
This limited edition has been released every year since 2018.
The word “limited” (limited, special, slight) has been removed from the 2021 release and it is now called “Komagatake 2022 Edition.
| Product name | Limited number of bottles |
Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2018 | 10,000 bottles |
| Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2019 | 11,497 bottles |
| Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2020 | 15,000 bottles |
| Single Malt Komagatake 2021 Edition | 50,000 bottles |
| Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition | 60,000 bottles |
1. Web lottery application
The web lottery application form is Click here.
Application period: September 13, 10:00 a.m.
Announcement of winners: On September 16, only winners will be notified by e-mail of the purchase procedure.
(Multiple applications for the same product will all be disqualified.
2. Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition
Single Malt Komagatake is produced at the Mars Shinshu Distillery, located at the foot of Mt. Komagatake in the Central Alps mountain range, surrounded by abundant nature and high-quality water. 2022 Edition” is a single malt whiskey bottled in a limited edition of 2022, consisting mainly of bourbon barrel-matured whiskey, accented with sherry cask-matured whiskey and port cask-matured whiskey.
Please enjoy the elegant and deep aroma and the smooth and pleasant flavor reminiscent of ripe persimmons.
*This product conforms to the Japan Western Whiskey Brewers Association’s “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese Whiskey.
Reference: Japanese Whiskey｜Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition｜Honbo Shuzo Co.
| Product name | Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition |
|---|---|
| Sake distillation | Single malt Japanese whiskey |
| Ingredients | Malt |
| Casks | Bourbon Barrel, Sherry, Port, etc. |
| Number of bottles | Limited to 60,000 bottles |
| Degree of | 50% (50%) |
| Price | Suggested retail price: 8,800 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactured at | Mars Shinshu Distillery |
| Producer | Hombo Shuzo Co. |
3. About Mars Shinshu Distillery
The Hombo Shuzo 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 whiskey that takes full advantage of the Japanese climate.
After several years of whiskey production in Kagoshima, in 1960, he established the Mars Yamanashi Winery, a factory for wine and whiskey 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 whiskey 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, Nagano Prefecture, in search of the best environment for whisky production.
In 1992, distillation was halted due to sluggish demand for whiskey. In 2009, when Japanese whiskey was beginning to gain worldwide recognition and demand for whiskey was on a recovery trend, the distillery 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 whiskey distillation building (including a barrel cellar) will be built to renovate aging facilities and improve the barrel cellar facilities with a view to increasing whiskey production, and a new visitor building will be built to sell original whiskey and goods, and existing facilities and equipment will be renovated.
The new whiskey distillation building has a total floor area of 1,996m2 (including the barrel cellar, which will hold approximately 2,500 barrels), and the visitor’s building has a floor area of 746m2.
Reference: Hombo Brewery official website
4. Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition Lineup
4-1Single Malt Komagatake 2021 Edition
Single Malt Komagatake is produced at the Mars Shinshu Distillery, located at the foot of Komagatake in the Central Alps mountain range, which is surrounded by high-quality water and rich nature. 2021 Edition” is a single malt whiskey bottled in a limited edition of 2021, vatted mainly with malt base aged in bourbon barrels and sherry casks.
Please enjoy its fruity aroma and gently sweet taste like ripe persimmon.
*This product conforms to the Japan Western Whiskey Brewers Association’s “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese Whiskey.
4-2Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2020
Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2020 is a single malt whisky bottled only in 2020, vatted mainly from malt base aged in sherry and American white oak barrels in the beautiful natural environment of Shinshu, Japan. The aroma of ripe plums wafts through the air, leading to a gentle sweet aroma of elegant honey and vanilla. In the mouth, orange-like fruitiness and a bitter taste reminiscent of cocoa are well balanced, followed by a subtly sweet and gentle aftertaste.
This product conforms to the “Japanese Whiskey Labeling Standards” of the Japan Western Whiskey Brewers Association.
4-3 Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2019
Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2019 is a 2019 limited bottled single malt whisky, vatted primarily from malt base spirit aged in bourbon barrels in the beautiful natural environment of Shinshu. The aroma of ripe persimmon, apricot, and orange marmalade spreads, and you can enjoy the elegant and mellow flavor reminiscent of quince and melon with a clean and pleasant aftertaste.
*This product conforms to the Japan Western Whiskey Brewers Association’s “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese Whiskey”.
4-4 Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2018
Single Malt Komagatake Limited Edition 2018 is a 2018 limited edition bottled single malt whisky made from malt base spirit matured in bourbon barrels and American white oak casks in the beautiful natural environment of Shinshu, Japan. The aroma of ripe plums and flowers is harmonized with a hint of peat, and on the palate, you can enjoy a long and pleasant aftertaste with a citrus aroma. It has been about 7 years since the Mars Shinshu Distillery resumed distilling. The distillate has been matured over time. For this edition, we selected sake from bourbon and American white oak barrels that have been aged well for more than three years. This 2018 Limited Edition single malt is the forerunner of the future Mars Shinshu Distillery’s standard product, Single Malt Komagatake.
*This product conforms to the Japan Western Whiskey Brewers Association’s “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese Whiskey.”
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.
