Mars Komagatake Distillery commenced operations in 1985. A 40th-anniversary commemorative whisky has been released.
This special edition features malt from every era except the period of suspension.
This commemorative bottle includes malt spirits from as far back as the 1980s in its blend.
A bottle that lets you relive the history of Komagatake. What kind of flavor profile does it offer?
1. Bottle and Label Photos
Single Malt Komagatake 40th Anniversary Special Edition
Single Malt KOMAGATAKE 40th Anniversary Special Edition
2. Characteristics of Single Malt Komagatake 40th Anniversary Special Edition
40th Anniversary Single Malt Whisky
The Mars Komagatake Distillery, which began operations in 1985, will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. To commemorate this, this special single malt whisky blends distillates from four distinct decades—the 1980s, 1990s, 2010s, and 2020s (excluding the 2000s when the distillery was inactive)—to express the distillery’s 40-year history in a single whisky.
Using spirits aged in diverse casks—Bourbon, Sherry, and American White Oak—and finished non-chill filtered to deliver a taste closer to the original spirit.The aroma features a multi-layered interplay of sweetness reminiscent of apple jam, ripe apricots, and melon, combined with vanilla and barrel-aged notes. The palate offers sweetness like raisins and maple syrup, balanced with a cinnamon-like spiciness and a richness reminiscent of sweet chestnuts and chocolate.
Source: Hombo Shuzo Official Website
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Fragrance | Apple jam, agave syrup, raisin bread |
| Taste | Mont Blanc cream, cinnamon, almond jelly, raw chocolate |
| After Taste | A mature, powdery texture and rich sweetness linger long |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 50% |
| Types of Alcohol | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Distillation Year | 1980s / 1990s / 2010s / 2020s |
| Content capacity | 700ml |
| Number of Bottles Sold | Approximately 5,000 bottles |
| MSRP | ¥29,700 (tax included) |
| Release Date | November 2025 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Single Malt Komagatake 40th Anniversary Special Edition |
| Content capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | ¥29,700 (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari were confirmed to be around ¥31,000 to ¥34,000. (As of 2025/12/24)
4-3. Yahoo! Auctions Winning Bid Price
Winning bid prices on Yahoo! Auctions could not be confirmed at this time. (As of 2025/12/24)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
Listings on e-commerce sites were confirmed at around ¥53,000. (As of 2025/12/24)
4-5. Price at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer it at: 7,260 yen per 45ml serving, 4,840 yen per 30ml serving, and 2,420 yen per 15ml serving.
5. About the Manufacturer
Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd.
| Established | 1872 |
| Headquarters Address | 3-27 Minami Sakae, Kagoshima-City, Kagoshima Prefecture 891-0122 |
| Distilleries Owned | Mars Shinshu Distillery, Mars Tsukuni Distillery |
6. About the Distilleries
Mars Komagatake Distillery
The distillery is located in Miyata Village, Nagano Prefecture, and was previously known as “Mars Shinshu Distillery”.
The name was changed to 【Komagatake Distillery】 in March 2024.
| Location | 4752-31 Miyatamura, Kamiina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-4301 |
| Start of Operations | 1985 |
Hombo Shuzo, which had been dedicated to producing the Japanese distilled spirit “shochu” in Kagoshima, obtained a whisky production license in 1949. Since then, it held onto the dream of “one day creating authentic whisky that truly reflects Japan’s climate and terroir.”
Several years after beginning whisky production in Kagoshima, the company established the Mars Yamanashi Winery in 1960 to produce wine and whisky. Then, seeking an even more ideal location to fully commit to whisky production, they searched for the perfect place.
The natural conditions required for whisky production are extremely demanding: a cold region with clear air, moderate humidity, and high-quality water.
Seeking such a location, Mars Shinshu Distillery was established in 1985 at the foot of Mount Komagatake in the Central Alps of Nagano Prefecture, at an elevation of 798 meters, providing the optimal environment for whisky production.
Distillation ceased in 1992 due to sluggish whisky demand . Later, as Japanese whisky began gaining global recognition and demand showed signs of recovery , we resolved to restart distillation in 2009, commencing operations again in February 2011.
September 2020 saw a full-scale renovation after 35 years, with an investment of approximately 1.2 billion yen.
Starting in May 2019, renovations focused on upgrading aging equipment, expanding barrel storage facilities to increase whisky production, and constructing new buildings: a Whisky Distillation Building (including barrel storage) for distillery tours, and a Visitor Building for selling original whiskys and merchandise. Existing equipment and facilities were also renovated.
The new Whisky Distillation Building covers 1,996 m² (total floor area, including the barrel storage facility with a planned capacity of approximately 2,500 barrels), while the Visitor Building covers 746 m².
Source: Hombo Shuzo Official Website
■Production Capacity: 1.1 tons of malted barley per day
■Raw Spirit Production: Approx. 700L/day, Approx. 185KL/year (planned for fiscal year 2020)
■Major Equipment: 1 malt mill, 1 6KL Mash tan roitel (saccharification tank), 3 6KL stainless steel fermentation tanks, 3 6KL Douglas fir wooden fermentation tanks (relocated), 1 first distillation pot still (relocated)
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For more information on Mars Komagatake Distillery, please see below↓
7. Summary
Komagatake 40th Anniversary is a bottle that stands out for its high level of refinement, befitting a milestone release.
Bright sweetness from bourbon casks intertwines with the deep richness from sherry casks, revealing the characteristic, long-aged Komagatake notes of chestnut and baked goods—a rich, intense sweetness.
Its flavor, combining both power and delicacy, truly embodies the distillery’s journey and accumulated expertise.
■ Be sure to check out our other review articles on “Komagatake”.
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.
