Papillon series from Hombo Shuzo. MARSMALT Le Papillon Triple Cask “A.ganesa”, features, price and how to buy.
1. About MARSMALT Le Papillon series
The “MARSMALT Le Papillon” series is a series that uses the motif of butterflies living in Japan to express the splendor of Japan’s seasonal climate and its natural environment, which forms the environment in which whisky is matured.
This is the 17th release in the Papillon series, and was aged in bourbon casks with the original spirit distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in 2017 and 2018. From the cask number, it is assumed that two barrels from Tsunuki and one from Komagatake were used.
| Product name | Cask | Number of bottlings | Price (tax included) | |
| The first release | S.divinus barine | American White Oak | 599 bottles | 10,450 yen |
| The second release | G.sarpedon nipponum | Bourbon barrel | 215 bottles | 9,900 yen |
| The third release | A.hippia japonica | American White Oak | 585 bottles | 9,900 yen |
| The fourth release | H.glaucippe liukiuensis | Bourbon barrel | 182 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| The fifth release | P.maackii *[WWA Gold Award] |
American White Oak | 560 bottles | 11,000 yen |
| The sixth release | C.thyodamas | Sherry barrel | 464 bottles | 11,000 yen |
| The seventh release | I.japonica | American White Oak | 576 bottles | 13,200 yen |
| The eighth release | A.puspa | Bourbon barrel | 469 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| The ninth release | A.cardamines | Sherry Butt | 643 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| The tenth release | I.io *[WWA Category Winner] |
Sherry Butt | 635 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| The eleventh release | P.helenus | Bourbon Barrel | 433 bottles | 11,000 yen |
| The twelfth release | MARSMALT Le Papillon TAKAHIDE KOMATSU Edition | American White Oak | 365 bottles | 297,000 yen |
| The thirteenth release | C.brillantinus | Umeshu (plum wine) barrel | 567 bottles | 13,200 yen |
| The fourteenth release | L.amurensis | Bourbon cherry head cask | 567 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| The fifteenth release | P.argyrognomon | Sherry cask | 818 bottles | 14,300 yen |
| The sixteenth release | P.memnon | Sherry cask | 621 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| The seventeenth release | A.ganesa | Bourbon Barrel | 578 bottles | 15,400 yen |
All of this series are bottled in small quantities, such as single or double cask, so the limited number of bottles each time is very small, making it one of the rarest and most scarce Japanese whiskies.
Click here for product details and past series.
2. About Mars Tsunuki Distillery
Mars Tsunuki Distillery
| Location | 6594, Kaseda-Tsunuki, Minami-Satsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture, 899-3611, Japan |
| Start of operation | 2016 |
“Tsunuki” in Kaseda, Minamisatsuma City. “The Mars Tsunuki Distillery”, the southernmost whisky distillery on the mainland, is located in the green mountains southwest of Satsuma Peninsula.
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 Mt. Kurata (475m) to the east and Mt. Nagaya (513m) to the west, the basin-like topography makes the summers hot and the winters cold, which are extremely severe in South Satsuma.
The area has a natural environment that is a “blessing from nature” with good water resources (Mt. Kurata spring water), and is known as “Tsunuki Mikan” (mandarin orange), which is cultivated by effectively utilizing the mountain slope.
Blessed with a mild climate and good water resources, Tsunuki is the birthplace of the Hombo Shuzo. It has been more than 100 years since the brewery started making shochu using Satsuma sweet potatoes, one of Satsuma’s representative specialties.
Reference: Mars Tsunuki Distillery official website
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3. Product name and photo
MARSMALT Le Papillon Triple Cask “A.ganesa”
MARSMALT Le Papillon Triple Cask A.ganesa
4. Characteristics
The “MARSMALT Le Papillon” series expresses the splendor of Japan’s seasonal climate and natural environment, which forms the environment in which whisky is matured, using butterflies that live in Japan as a motif.
The theme of this product is the small and rare butterfly “A.ganesa,” and the exotic blue wings shining in a dimly lit shrubbery are the image of the exquisite triple cask single malt whisky, distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery and vatted from three barrels aged in bourbon barrels.
<A.ganesa> “The A.ganesa is one of the most rare butterflies representing Japan. The name derives from the American who discovered it, Mr. Loomis, and I have admired the butterfly since I was a boy. My first encounter with the butterfly was at the end of August of my second year of high school. I was exploring a dry stream in the shiny-leaved forest zone in Minami-Boso where it was dark even in the daytime. It was hard to walk at the bottom of the valley, and my eyes were soaked with sweat from the sauna bath I was taking that my vision was often blurry. I looked down at my feet and saw several mountain lions crawling up my trousers. I will never forget the moment when I finally saw the butterfly of my dreams while enduring the horror of the scene. This triple cask single malt whisky was distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery and vatted with three barrels of malt distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery and aged in bourbon barrels to evoke the image of exotic blue wings shining in a dimly-lit shady forest.” Label photo and text by Shuichi Ogino.
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Stiff sweet aroma of sweet potatoes and sweet chestnuts, southern citrus fruits, and Hakka at the back. |
| Taste | Dried sweet potato, rummy acidity, a little bit of sea air and mint |
| Aftertaste | Sour and savory, but the rustic sweetness lingers especially long. |
4-2. Product Specifications
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| Alcohol content | 55% |
| Distinction by alcohol | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Barrel type | Bourbon Barrel |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 578 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 15,400 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | July 2024 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time.
6. Price
6-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Mars Malt Le Papillon Triple Cask “A.ganesa” |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | Tax included: 15,400 yen |
6₋2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale on Mercari is about 33,000 yen. (*As of July 25, 2024)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
It was listed on Yahoo! Auctions for 35,000 yen. (*As of July 25, 2024)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
No items are currently listed on mail-order sites. (*As of July 25, 2024)
6-5. Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer small quantities such as 1 glass, 45ml: 4,620 yen, 30ml: 3,080 yen, 15ml: 1,540 yen, etc.
7. Summary
This time, the Papillon series is Tsunuki Bourbon Barrel, the first triple cask in the series. 6 to 7 years old or so of the original whisky is used, and the Tsunuki distillate whisky, combined with the warmth of the climate, is a bottle that shows considerable aging.
The list is shown at the beginning, but due to the small number of bottlings, the resale price of the Papillon series has risen considerably, and some of the past products are currently being traded (on Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions) for over 100,000 yen.
The series will continue in the future, so watch out for the next installment.
■Please be sure to check out our other articles on the Hombo Shuzo and Papillon series.
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.
