The Hombo family, owners of Mars Whisky, first took out a license to distil whisky in 1949, although it was not until 1960 that it started making whisky – and not in Kagoshima, but at a purpose built plant in Yamanashi. Iwai was also responsible for the design of their pot stills and is considered a pioneer in the history and development of pot still whisky in Japan.

 A rich gold whisky with light, sweet and floral fragrances with notes of sweet pear and dark cacao.