Honbo Shuzo and Tsunuki Distillery release single malt again this year, reviewing single malt Japanese whisky that can be purchased for less than 10,000 yen.
Tsunuki’s edition series is released every January.
Mars Tsunuki distillery is located in the basin with its unique cold temperature difference and high quality water from the Kurata mountain range. This is a single malt vatted with the original spirit matured in various casks, mainly bourbon barrels and sherry casks.
With a suggested retail price of 9,020 yen (including tax), it is one of the easiest single malt Japanese whiskys to purchase, as it is produced in abundant quantities every January.
1. photo of the bottle and the website where it can be purchased
Single Malt Tsunuki 2024 Edition
Single Malt Tsunuki 2024 Edition 
2. Features
Mars Tsunuki Distillery Single Malt Whisky to be released in 2025.Single Malt Tsunuki” is produced at the Mars Tsunuki distillery located in the green mountains in the southwest of Satsuma Peninsula, which is blessed with a climate with temperature differences unique to the basin and high-quality spring water from the Mt.
The “2025 Edition” is a single malt whisky released in 2025, vatted with malt spirit aged in various casks, mainly bourbon barrels and sherry casks.Reference: Single Malt Tsunuki 2025 Edition | Japanese Whisky | Honbo Shuzo Official Website
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Imoyokan, match, corn, apple compote with added water, overall sweet aroma. |
| Taste | Honey, yellow peach, pineapple, kumquat, citrus candy |
| Aftertaste | Sweet oak-derived aroma followed by a refreshing citrus acidity that lingers for a long time |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 49% (with a slight alcohol content) |
| Distillate | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Cask type | Bourbon barrels, Sherry casks |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Undisclosed for this year. Last year, 48,200 bottles were sold in limited quantities. |
| Suggested retail price | 9,020 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | January 2025 |
3. Awards
No awards received at this time.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Single Malt Tsunuki 2024 Edition |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 9,030 yen (including tax) |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale price on Mercariis around9,000 yen. (*As of 1/29/2024)
4-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auctions
Sold bids on Yahoo! A uctions could not be confirmed at present. (*As of 1/29/2024)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
We were able to confirm that the product was sold at a fixed price on mail order sites. (*as of 1/29/2024)
4-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, oneglass is offered at 45ml: 2,640 yen, 30ml: 1,760 yen, and 15ml: 880 yen.
5. Manufacturer
Shuzo Co.
| Established | 1872 |
| Head office location | 891-0122; 3-27 Minamiei, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Owned distilleries | Mars Shinshu distillery, Mars Tsunuki distillery |
6. Distilleries owned
Mars Tsunuki Distillery
| Location | 6594, Kaseda-Tsunuki, Minami-Satsuma-shi, Kagoshima 899-3611 |
| Start of operation | 2016 |
Tsunuki “in Kaseda, Minamisatsuma City. Mars Tsunuki Distillery, the southernmost whisky distillery on the mainland, is located in the mountains full of greenery in the 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 Chouya Mt. (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 oranges) because of the effective use of the mountain slopes.
Blessed with a mild climate and good water resources, Tsunuki is the birthplace of the Sake Brewery. It has been more than 100 years since the brewery started making shochu using Satsuma sweet potatoes, one of Satsuma’s most popular specialties, and the brewery is now engaged in whisky production in Tsunuki, where the tradition of sake brewing is handed down to the present.
Reference: Mars Tsunuki Distillery official website
7. Summary
This release is now at 49%, 1% lower in body than previous releases in this series.
The sweetness is deeper and the acidity is fresher than last year.
The distillery has been in operation for 8 years now, and the production of the original sake itself seems to have been powered up.
The distillery has been in operation for 8 years. I would like to taste Tsunuki sherry in the single cask series in the future.
Please take a look at the article about other whiskies of Honbo 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.
