The new Papillon series from Hombo Shuzo has arrived. Here’s a look at Mars Malt Le Papillon Triple Cask“P.ryukyuensis,”including its features, price, and how to purchase it.
With its beautiful label featuring a butterfly, many whisky enthusiasts are likely familiar with it.
The “Mars Malt Le Papillon” series has seen many varieties released to date.
This series is released twice a year, and the chance to purchase it comes through a lottery system.
This Triple Cask release is limited to 508 bottles. It is a heavily peated whisky made exclusively from Tsunuki Distillery’s base spirit and aged in bourbon barrels.
1. Photos of the bottle and label
MARS MALT Le Papillon Triple Cask P.ryukyuensis
MARS MALT Le Papillon Triple Cask P.ryukyuensis
2. Features of MARS MALT Le Papillon Triple Cask “P.ryukyuensis”
This release marks the 21st installment in the Le Papillon series. It is a blend of three barrels, featuring spirit distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in December 2018 and aged in bourbon barrels.
The “Mars Malt Le Papillon” series expresses the splendor of Japan’s natural environment—specifically the climate and seasonal changes that shape the whisky’s maturation—through motifs of butterflies native to Japan.
The design features the “P.ryukyuensis,” a species endemic to Japan found exclusively in the Okinawa Islands and the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, known for its beautiful, distinctly tropical colors. Distilled at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery and matured in bourbon barrels, this is apeated spirit from three barrels, resulting in a masterpiece of a triple-cask single malt whisky.Source: Hombo Shuzo Official Website
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Smoked cheese, bonito dashi, ashy peach, dry-roasted almonds |
| Taste | Burnt vanilla, peppermint, pineapple core |
| Finish | A sweet, burnt note and acidity, followed by a menthol-like cooling sensation |
2-2. Product Specifications
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| Alcohol Content | 48% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Cask Type | Bourbon Barrel |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles Sold | 508 bottles |
| Suggested Retail Price | 15,400 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | March 2026 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received to date.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Mars Malt Le Papillon Triple Cask “P.ryukyuensis” |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 15,400 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
A resale transaction on Mercari was recorded at 40,000 yen. *As of March 24, 2026
4-3. Yahoo! Auctions Winning Bid Price
No listings were found on Yahoo! Auctions. *As of March 24, 2026
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon
The item is not currently listed on these online shopping sites. *As of March 24, 2026
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer small portions such as 45ml for 4,620 yen, 30ml for 3,080 yen, and 15ml for 1,540 yen.
5. About the Mars Malt Le Papillon Series
The “Mars Malt Le Papillon” series expresses the splendor of Japan’s natural environment—specifically the climate and seasonal changes that shape the aging conditions of whisky—using butterflies native to Japan as motifs.
| No | Product Name | Cask | Bottle Count | Price (Tax Included) |
| Volume 1 | S. divinus barine | American White Oak | 599 bottles | 10,450 yen |
| Volume 2 | G. sarpedon nipponum | Bourbon Barrel | 215 bottles | 9,900 yen |
| Volume 3 | A. hippia japonica | American white oak | 585 pieces | 9,900 yen |
| Volume 4 | H. glaucippe liukiuensis | Bourbon Barrel | 182 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| Volume 5 | P. maackii *[WWA Gold Award] |
American White Oak | 560 pieces | 11,000 yen |
| Volume 6 | C. thyodamas | Sherry cask | 464 bottles | 11,000 yen |
| Volume 7 | I. japonica | American white oak | 576 pieces | 13,200 yen |
| Volume 8 | A. puspa | Bourbon Barrel | 469 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| Volume 9 | A. cardamines | Sherry cask | 643 | 12,100 yen |
| Volume 10 | I.io *[ WWACategory Winner] |
Sherry Bat | 635 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| Volume 11 | P. helenus | Bourbon Barrel | 433 bottles | 11,000 yen |
| Volume 12 | Mars Malt Le Papillon Takahide Komatsu Edition | American White Oak | 365 bottles | 297,000 yen |
| Volume 13 | C.brillantinus | Plum wine barrel | 567 bottles | 13,200 yen |
| Volume 14 | L. amurensis | Bourbon Sakura Head Cask | 567 bottles | 12,100 yen |
| Volume 15 | P. argyrognomon | Sherry Cask | 818 bottles | 14,300 yen |
| Volume 16 | P. memnon | Sherry Cask | 621 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| Volume 17 | A. ganesa | Bourbon Barrel | 578 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| Volume 18 | C. palaeno | Bourbon Barrel | 806 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| Volume 19 | P. xuthus | Port Wine & Marsala Wine | 651 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| Volume 20 | E. neriene | Red Wine Cask | 717 bottles | 15,400 yen |
| Volume 21 | P.ryukyuensis | Heavily Peated Bourbon Barrel | 508 bottles | 15,400 yen |
Since every release in this series is bottled in small batches—such as single cask or double cask—the limited production runs are very small each time, making this one of the rarest Japanese whiskys available.
Click here for product details and past series
6. Manufacturer
Mars Tsunuki Distillery
| Address | 6594 Kaseda Tsunuki, Minamisatsuma-City, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-3611 |
| Start of Operations | 2016 |
“ Tsunuki “ in Kaseda, Minamisatsuma-City. Nestled amidst the lush, green mountains of the southwestern Satsuma Peninsula stands “Mars Tsunuki Distillery, ” the southernmost whisky distillery on the Japanese mainland.
Located in the southwestern part of the Satsuma Peninsula, Tsunuki lies in a long, narrow basin stretching along the Kaseda River, a tributary of the Mannose River. Surrounded by Mount Kurata (475 m) to the east and Mount Choya (513 m) to the west, the basin-like topography makes summers hot and winters exceptionally cold—even more so than in the rest of southern Satsuma.
Blessed with high-quality water resources (spring water from Mt. Kurata) and a natural environment that can truly be called a “gift from heaven,” the area is also known for its thriving mandarin orange cultivation, which makes effective use of the mountain slopes and is renowned as “Tsunuki Mandarins.”
Blessed with a warm climate and high-quality water resources, Tsunuki is the birthplace of Hombo Shuzo. More than a century has passed since we began producing shochu using “sweet potatoes,” a specialty of Satsuma. In Tsunuki—a place where we have a deep understanding of the local water, climate, and terroir, and where the tradition of sake brewing is passed down to this day—we are now dedicated to crafting whisky.
Source: Mars Tsunuki Distillery Official Website
7. Summary
The 21st release in the Papillon series by Hombo Shuzo, “P.ryukyuensis,” is a rare, smoky bottle within the series, made exclusively from heavily peated malt from the Tsunuki Distillery.
In addition to the sweetness derived from bourbon barrels, the nuances reminiscent of ash and dashi broth are characteristic of Tsunuki Peated.
Prices on the secondary market are consistently soaring, a testament to its rarity and the large following it has garnered for its flavor profile.
Please be sure to check out our other articles on the Hombo Shuzo 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.
