Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series.
The Redbreast offers mature pot still character, shaped by restrained Oloroso influence and presented at natural strength. The Mars Komagatake delivers the focused fruit and polish that has made Japanese single malt a category of increasing interest.
The Mars Komagatake delivers the focused fruit and polish that have made Japanese single malt a category of ongoing interest…
Matured in third-fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a robust 60% ABV, this single pot still offering promises depth without sacrificing elegance. At 20 years old, and drawn from third-fill casks, the sherry influence is said to be measured rather than overpowering.
On the nose, expect bright orange peel, star fruit and lemon zest, with notes of incense, Turkish delight and fig jam.
On the palate, dark and milk chocolate lead into dense orchard fruit: apples, mango, lime and nectarine, with stewed pear adding softness. Warming spice and fragrant oak move through the centre, joined by cherry jam and raisins. Beneath it all runs a thread of dark chocolate poured over ginger cake.
From Japan’s Central Alps comes the second exclusive, a single-cask release from Mars Komagatake Distillery. Distilled in 2017 and matured for seven years in a bourbon cask, this whisky forms the fifth instalment in the label’s Sumo Series.
Only 168 bottles have been produced. The whisky was aged in Mars’ Yakushima ageing cellar, located on the island of Yakushima off Japan’s southern coast, a maritime environment said to subtly shape maturation.
Bottled at 57% ABV, the profile leans into tropical fruit, vanilla and soft spice.
The Sumo Series itself takes inspiration from Japan’s national sport, with each bottling referencing one of the 82 official kimarite winning techniques. Series #5 highlights Tsuki-dashi, a forceful pushing manoeuvre; the label features a modern illustration printed on traditional Japanese washi paper.
Welcome to The Luxe Review podcast — where the whisky is limited, the Chardonnay has opinions about geography, and the listening bar is apparently a lifestyle now. Anne: The team has been covering a lot of ground this week — cask innovation, distilling heritage, a global wine competition, and a collaboration that pairs high-fidelity audio…
The world’s finest Chardonnay has been named, and this year the title has travelled a long way from Burgundy. At the recent London Wine Fair, one of the UK wine trade’s most closely watched tastings brought together some of the globe’s leading examples of the grape for a rigorous blind assessment. The result was a…
A new limited-edition Scotch whisky collection has launched exclusively through Master of Malt, celebrating distilleries that still use traditional worm tub condensers. Fewer than 20 distilleries in Scotland continue to craft whiskies using this historic production method. The range comprises five sherry-matured expressions: Knockdhu 10 Year Old, Glen Elgin 11 Year Old, Mortlach 12 Year…
The Luxe Review 
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series.
The Redbreast offers mature pot still character, shaped by restrained Oloroso influence and presented at natural strength. The Mars Komagatake delivers the focused fruit and polish that has made Japanese single malt a category of increasing interest.
Redbreast 20 Year Old Small Batch Oloroso Cask, £275
Matured in third-fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a robust 60% ABV, this single pot still offering promises depth without sacrificing elegance. At 20 years old, and drawn from third-fill casks, the sherry influence is said to be measured rather than overpowering.
On the nose, expect bright orange peel, star fruit and lemon zest, with notes of incense, Turkish delight and fig jam.
On the palate, dark and milk chocolate lead into dense orchard fruit: apples, mango, lime and nectarine, with stewed pear adding softness. Warming spice and fragrant oak move through the centre, joined by cherry jam and raisins. Beneath it all runs a thread of dark chocolate poured over ginger cake.
Mars Komagatake 2017/7 Year Old, Sumo Series #5, £225
From Japan’s Central Alps comes the second exclusive, a single-cask release from Mars Komagatake Distillery. Distilled in 2017 and matured for seven years in a bourbon cask, this whisky forms the fifth instalment in the label’s Sumo Series.
Only 168 bottles have been produced. The whisky was aged in Mars’ Yakushima ageing cellar, located on the island of Yakushima off Japan’s southern coast, a maritime environment said to subtly shape maturation.
Bottled at 57% ABV, the profile leans into tropical fruit, vanilla and soft spice.
The Sumo Series itself takes inspiration from Japan’s national sport, with each bottling referencing one of the 82 official kimarite winning techniques. Series #5 highlights Tsuki-dashi, a forceful pushing manoeuvre; the label features a modern illustration printed on traditional Japanese washi paper.
Redbreast 20 Year Old Small Batch Oloroso Cask is priced at £275. Mars Komagatake 2017/7 Year Old Sumo Series #5 is priced at £225. Both are available exclusively from The Whisky Exchange.
The Luxe Review podcast: A week of wine and whisky crossovers
Welcome to The Luxe Review podcast — where the whisky is limited, the Chardonnay has opinions about geography, and the listening bar is apparently a lifestyle now. Anne: The team has been covering a lot of ground this week — cask innovation, distilling heritage, a global wine competition, and a collaboration that pairs high-fidelity audio…
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The world’s finest Chardonnay has been named, and this year the title has travelled a long way from Burgundy. At the recent London Wine Fair, one of the UK wine trade’s most closely watched tastings brought together some of the globe’s leading examples of the grape for a rigorous blind assessment. The result was a…
This new sherry matured Single Cask whisky series celebrates a dying distilling art
A new limited-edition Scotch whisky collection has launched exclusively through Master of Malt, celebrating distilleries that still use traditional worm tub condensers. Fewer than 20 distilleries in Scotland continue to craft whiskies using this historic production method. The range comprises five sherry-matured expressions: Knockdhu 10 Year Old, Glen Elgin 11 Year Old, Mortlach 12 Year…
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