Mars Shinshu & Mars Tsunuki Distilleries (Hombo Shuzo)

Question 1

Hombo family history

Answer 1

-Business started in 1872 (cotton processing)
-Sochu in 1909
-expanded into Sake, Mirin, neutral spirits and umeshu (plum liquer) over next 50 years
-Whisky license in 1949

Question 2

What is Iwai connection to Masataka Taketsuru?

Answer 2

-Kiichiro Iwai worked for Hombo as an advisor
-Later Iwai was working for Settsu Shuzo with Taketsuru working under him
-When Taketsuru got back from Scotland, he presented the famous “Taketsuru Notebook” to Kiichiro Iwai
-Forty years later, when Hombo Shuzo asked Iwai to set up a whisky distillery - Iwai used the notebook

Question 3

Where did Hombo Shuzo begin whisky production?

Answer 3

-Ran initially out of their Yamanashi winery site

Question 4

When was Mars-Shinshu acquired and what was the original equipment?

Answer 4

-Shinshu site in Nagano prefecture at the foot of Mt Komagatake was acquried in 1985
-Original stills were from Yamanashi site
-No distillation happened for 19 years
-Started up in 2010

Question 5

Mash tun at Mars Shinshu

Answer 5

Stainless Steel Lauter

Question 6

Washbacks at Mars Shinshu

Answer 6

3 Oregon Pine
3 Stainless Steel (temperature controlled)

Question 7

Stills at Shinshu distillery

Answer 7

1 pair
indirect heating on both wash and spirits still
descending lyne arms and shell & tube condenser for wash still and worm tub for spirits still

Question 8

3 Different Mars Facilities and differences in climate

Answer 8

Shinshu Distillery
(2618ft altitiude / avg temp 10C / humidity 65-67%)
angels share = 3%
Tsunuki Distillery
(187ft altitude / avg temp 18C / humidity 70-72%)
angels share = 6-7%
Yakushima Island Aging Cellar
(164ft altitude / avg temp 19C / humidity 74-76%)

Question 9

Mash tun at Mars Tsunuki

Answer 9

Stainless steel

Question 10

Washbacks at Mars Tsunuki

Answer 10

5 Stainless Steel

Question 11

Stills at Tsunuki distillery

Answer 11

1 pair
indirect heating on both wash and spirits stills
descending lyne arms and worm tubs for both

Question 12

Super Alospas Still at Mars Tsunuki

Answer 12

-Only place in Japan that has one
-Installed in 1956 and used until 1974
-7 story tower (26m high)

Question 13

What is the new name for Mars Shinshu distillery?

Answer 13

-Mars Komagatake (according to Broom’s book)