Disclosure: the sample for this review was provided at no cost. Our tasting notes and score are our own.
A little background
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend is one of the more innovative whiskey releases to emerge from Kentucky in recent years. Rather than relying on a traditional cask finish, where a whiskey briefly matures in a secondary barrel, Bardstown took a far more ambitious approach. Japanese single malt whisky from Mars’ Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries was shipped to Kentucky and co-aged in barrel alongside mature Kentucky bourbon for a full 12 months, allowing the spirits to integrate naturally over time.
The final blend combines four distinct components: 69% Kentucky 10-year bourbon, 20% Komagatake 5-year single malt whisky, 8% Kentucky 16-year bourbon, and 3% Tsunuki 5-year single malt whisky. Bottled at 109.8 proof (54.9% ABV), the whiskey carries a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 375mL bottle.
Mashbill
69% Kentucky 10-Year Bourbon (74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley)
20% Komagatake 5-Year Malt Whisky (100% Malted Barley)
8% Kentucky 16-Year Bourbon (75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley)
3% Tsunuki 5-Year Malt Whisky (100% Malted Barley)
The Japanese components each bring something specific to the table. The Komagatake malt was originally aged in Umeshu plum liqueur barrels, while the Tsunuki malt spent time in rare Sakura cherry wood barrels — two cask types that don’t exactly show up in your average Kentucky warehouse. Master Blender Dan Callaway describes the goal as true integration rather than simple blending, and the collaboration with Mars Whisky president Kazuto Hombo reflects a genuine exchange between two whiskey cultures. The Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend is offered exclusively in a 375mL format and is available only at Bardstown Bourbon Company’s distillery gift shop and its Louisville tasting room — making it a genuinely limited get.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Gold
| Nose | Taste | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel, toffee, caramelized plum, malt, vanilla bean, toasted almond, cherry | Vanilla custard, cherry, plum, toasted oak, graham cracker, ginger spice, raisins | Caramel, toasted oak, malt, cinnamon, ginger spice, baking spice, espresso |
In closing
At the end of the day, the Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend earns its place as one of the more interesting whiskeys Bardstown has put out under the Distillery Reserve banner. The co-aging concept is more than just a marketing hook, you can actually taste the integration. The plum and cherry notes from those Umeshu and Sakura barrel-aged Japanese malts weave through the vanilla and oak backbone of the Kentucky bourbon in a way that feels cohesive rather than forced. Nothing about this whiskey feels like two separate spirits awkwardly sharing the same glass. At $99.99 for a 375mL, you’re paying a premium on a per-ounce basis, and that’s worth being upfront about. But this isn’t a standard 750mL release — it’s a one-time, small-batch experiment built from unusual components and a production process that doesn’t really have a comparable in the current market. For a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates genuine innovation and has any curiosity about where bourbon and Japanese single malt can meet, the Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend is absolutely worth tracking down.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Bardstown Bourbon Company. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend
109.8 Proof
