New Release: MARS KOMAGATAKE 2012-2015 3yo OB for CAMPBELTOUN LOCH 15th ANNIVERSARY TOUR #1559

Blind tasting, it would be mistaken for Kilchoman. MARS KOMAGATAKE 2012-2015 3yo OB for CAMPBELTOUN LOCH 15th ANNIVERSARY TOUR #1559 58% One of 614 bottles, American White Oak Cask The aroma features fresh orange, strong peat, seawind, vanilla, youthful yet robust barley notes, and oil. On the palate, it exhibits youthful but strong barley characteristics, fresh citrus, moderate sweetness, a notable briny quality, sesame oil, and a dominant smoky peat profile. 【Good/Very Good】 This year, during the 15th anniversary tour of Campbelltown Loch in Yurakucho, a visit to Mars Distillery was made, leading to the bottling of KOMAGATAKE, aged for 3 years. I had no prior knowledge, but it's a remarkably heavily peated malt. Despite its 3-year aging, the strong peatiness is so pronounced that it masks any youthful qualities. While I couldn't identify the specific source of the peat, there were subtle seawater nuances reminiscent of island Scotch. Notes of citrus and vanilla suggest positive influences from the bourbon cask, resulting in a surprisingly enjoyable whisky without any off-putting characteristics. It would be confidently mistaken for a recently released Kilchoman in a blind tasting, making it a well-crafted peated malt.