The Komagatake Limited Edition has been released annually since 2018.
This year’s limited edition of 60,000 bottles is very large and may be relatively easy to obtain.
The product name was “Limited Edition” until 2020, but the word “Limited” (limited, special, slight) has been eliminated and the product name has changed to “Edition” due to the significant increase in the number of limited editions since the previous one released in 2021.
1. Manufacturer
Honbo Shuzo Co.
| Established | 1872 |
| Head office location | 891-0122; 3-27 Nanei, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan |
| Owned distilleries | MARS Shinshu Distillery, MARS Tsunuki Distillery |
2. Distilleries owned
MARS Shinshu Distillery
| Location | 4752-31 Miyada-mura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano 399-4301 |
| Start of operation | 1985 |
In 1949, Hombo Shuzo, which had been striving to make “Shochu”, a Japanese distilled spirit, in Kagoshima, obtained a license to produce whisky. 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, Nagano Prefecture, in search of the best environment for whisky making.
In 1992, distillation was halted due to sluggish demand for whisky. Later, as Japanese whisky began to be appreciated worldwide, we decided to resume distilling in 2009, when the demand for whisky was on the recovery trend, and started distilling again in 2010. The company re-started in February 2011.
In September 2020, it was completely renovated for the first time in 35 years. The investment is approximately 1.2 billion yen.
In May 2019, a new whisky distillation building (including a barrel cellar) was built to renovate aging facilities, improve the barrel cellar facilities with a view to increasing whisky production, and provide tours of the whisky making process, as well as a visitor building to sell original whisky and merchandise.
The new whisky distillation building has a total floor area of 1,996 square meter (including the barrel cellar, which will hold approximately 2,500 barrels), and the visitor’s building has a floor area of 746 square meter.
Reference: Hombo Shuzo official website
■Production capacity: 1.1 tons of malt per day
■Production capacity of malt malt: 1.1 t/day
■Main facilities: 1 malt crusher, 1 mash tun reuter (saccharification tank) 6KL, 3 stainless steel fermentation tanks 6KL, 3 Douglas fir wooden fermentation tanks (relocated) 6KL, and a first distillation kettle (relocated).
For more information about Mars Shinshu Distillery, please see also here↓.
https://en.jpwhisky.net/japanesedistillery-2-3542/#4-3_Mars_Shinshu_Distillery_Hombo_Sake_Brewery”]
3. Product name and photo
Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition
Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition 
4. Characteristics
“Single Malt Komagatake” is produced at the MARS Shinshu Distillery, which is located at the foot of Komagatake Mountain in the Central Alps, surrounded by abundant nature and high-quality water. “2022 Edition” is a single malt whisky bottled in a limited edition of 2022, consisting mainly of bourbon barrel-aged spirit, accented with sherry cask-aged spirit and port cask-aged spirit.
Please enjoy its elegant and deep aroma and smooth, pleasant flavor reminiscent of ripe persimmons.
*This product conforms to the Japan Western Whisky Brewers Association’s “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese Whisky”.
Reference: Japanese Whisky｜Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Fresh grapefruit, dry wood aroma |
| Taste | Sweet and sour of passion fruit and kiwi, woody astringency |
| Aftertaste | Pleasant bitterness with a good balance of sweetness and acidity |
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 50% alcohol by volume |
| Distillation | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Cask type | Bourbon Barrel, Sherry, Port, etc. |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited to 60,000 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 8,800 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | September 16, 2022 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time.
6. Price
6-1. Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Single Malt Komagatake 2022 Edition |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 8,800 yen (including tax) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is Around 11,000-12,000 yen (*September 22, 2022). (*As of 9/22/2022)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
Sold price on Yahoo! Auction is Lowest 11,000 yen, highest 11,000 yen, average 11,000 yen (*Statistics for the past 180 days from 9/22/2022)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
The price is also available on the mail-order site Around 11,000 yen The price of the item is also available on mail-order sites. (*As of 9/22/2022)
6-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site 1 1 glass, 45ml: 2,970 yen, 30ml: 1,980 yen, 15ml: 990 yen We offer this service at
https://en.jpwhisky.net/about-2/barshinkai-4/
7. Summary
When drunk straight, the aroma is sweet and sour like fresh fruit. The first attack is full of fruit, but gradually the richness of the sherry and port casks comes out.
Although it is mainly made from bourbon casks, the fruity, sweet and sour, mellow flavor derived from port casks can be felt more clearly than the vanilla-like aroma and flavor that is characteristic of bourbon casks.
■Please check out our other articles on Hombo Shuzo Single Malt Komagatake.
https://en.jpwhisky.net/2022/09/16/le_papillon_c_brillantinus-2/
https://en.jpwhisky.net/2022/08/18/komagatake_ipacask_2022-2/
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.
