Mars The Y.A. Double Cask Bakemono Umashika No. 7 Bourbon Barrel Matured Single Malt Whisky

Mars Hombo frequently pushes boundaries, and their Bakemono Zukushi series embraces the brilliantly bizarre. The seventh release highlights Umashika, a one-eyed yōkai from Edo-period folklore combining horse and deer traits. Legend claims this creature induces foolish behavior in wandering travelers. This liquid commands absolute respect. It marries two distinct single malt casks sourced from the Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries. They mature entirely in the subtropical, rain-swept climate of the Mars Yakushima Aging Cellar. Intense island humidity accelerates the aging process significantly, pulling remarkably profound depth and heavy oak influence from the ex-bourbon barrels over a focused six-to-eight-year slumber.

Merging such divergent geographical spirits demands a masterful touch. The distillers lightly peat the malted barley before running it twice through copper pot stills. Yakushima’s fierce elemental impact softens the distillate. It leaves an ethereal, delicately smoky profile that completely masks the formidable 102 proof. This double cask vatting feels expansive and untamed in the glass, yet it's firmly anchored by exceptional blending technique. You'll rarely encounter a dram capturing high-altitude precision and low-elevation heft with such vivid clarity, making this limited edition a pivotal benchmark for modern Japanese whisky innovation.

• Distilled at Komagatake (Nagano) and Tsunuki (Kagoshima)
• Aged exclusively in two ex-bourbon barrels at the Yakushima Cellar
• Lightly peated malt (20–50 ppm) bottled non-chill filtered at 51% ABV