Mars 'Tsunuki' Peated Japanese Whisky
Mars Tsunuki Peated is the bold side of Hombo Shuzo — a Japanese single malt from the company's second distillery in Kagoshima, peated at 20–50 ppm and bottled at 50% ABV; distilled in the winters of 2016 and 2017, bottled in 2020, just 2,100 bottles — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 50% vol (100 proof); non-chill filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Type: single malt (100% malted barley; peated malt)
- Peat: 20–50 ppm — firmly peated, in the ballpark of peated Highland Scotches
- Age: NAS — distilled 2016–2017, bottled 2020 (3–4 years; warm Kagoshima climate accelerates maturation)
- Casks: primarily ex-bourbon oak, some sherry casks
- Origin: Tsunuki Distillery, Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima — Hombo Shuzo's second distillery, built 2016
Kagoshima's Answer to Nagano's Elegance
Both Mars distilleries are Hombo Shuzo single malts, but they are opposites by design: Komagatake (Nagano, ~798m, cool and slow) is elegant and fruit-driven, while Tsunuki (Kagoshima, humid, with big temperature swings) was built in 2016 in the Hombo family's home region to make bolder, heavier whisky. The peated second release is notably rare territory for Japanese single malt — 20–50 ppm sits squarely in peated-Highland-Scotch country. Discover more Mars Shinshu Distillery or the store's Japanese whisky range.
Tasting Notes
Smoked maple syrup, wet campfire, and dried apricot on the nose, with expressive mixed yellow fruit, black and white pepper, vanilla pod, and buttery creaminess. Prominent peat on the palate with a note of sandalwood — fresh, acidulous, mineral, returning pepper with a light smoky aftertaste. The finish is drying: browned butter, stemmy herbs, wet gravel, a hint of menthol.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn at 50%; a drop of water softens the peat and opens the fruit. Ideal for peat fans and Scotch drinkers curious about Japanese peated whisky; pair with dark chocolate or smoked foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tsunuki a real distillery or just a label?
Real — Hombo Shuzo's second distillery in Kagoshima, built in 2016 (the family had distilled there historically) to make bolder spirit than Mars Shinshu.
How peated is Tsunuki Peated?
20–50 ppm — moderately to firmly peated, in the ballpark of peated Highland Scotches, and notably rare among Japanese single malts.
How old is Tsunuki Peated?
Distilled in 2016–2017 and bottled in 2020, so 3–4 years old — young, but the warm Kagoshima climate accelerates maturation.
Tsunuki vs Komagatake — what's the difference?
Both are Hombo Shuzo single malts; Komagatake (Nagano, high altitude) is elegant and fruit-driven, while Tsunuki (Kagoshima, warm/humid) is bolder, often peated, and more heavily flavored.
Peat, Japanese style: order Mars Tsunuki Peated online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.