Mars 2014 4 YO Marsmalt - Le Papillon

Mars 2014 4 YO Marsmalt - Le Papillon, 60 %

A single cask release from Mars Shinshu, Japan, is under review today. This single malt whisky was distilled in March 2014, matured in a bourbon barrel, and bottled in May 2018. The cask (cask# 2008) yielded a total of 182 bottles.

Nose: Malty and fruity up front. Opens fairly quickly. Expecting vanilla, I rather find heaps of marzipan. With time the marzipan morphs into pure almond paste. Apples and citrus in the end.

Taste: Rather full bodied with some omph. Spicy. Ginger, camphor, white pepper and vanilla. Comes across as a little strange in the spiciness - but I am not able to nail down the exact nature of the strangeness. It is not unpleasant. Apples and cinnamon on subsequent sips.

Finish: Short to medium finish. Remains fairly spicy. Mixed fruitness with apples and some citrus.

Comment: Fine! Absolutely.

Score 85/100

Slàinte!
- Thomas