Mars Iwai 45

This new higher proof Iwai (pronounced EE-why) was designed for cocktails; however it’s supple and more than capable as a neat sipper too with pleasing aromas of honey ripening pear barley exotic woods and citrus. The palate of honey sweetness sugar cubes vanilla pear apricot and spice bows out with honey breakfast cereal nougat and white chocolate. It’s a delicious and unusual whisky from Japan less aligned with the country’s scotch-like tradition of malts and blends and more similar to bourbon being made mostly from corn. Number 19 in the 2020 Top 20