Japan Meets Kentucky: BBC Mars Single Malt Japanese Whiskey Blend Review
It's not a pairing that many folks are probably sitting around hoping someone would put some effort behind. But once it's in the glass, it's pretty clear that BBC and Mars figured it out.
Bottle Details
- DISTILLER: Bardstown Bourbon Co.
- TYPE: Blended Whiskey (Kentucky Bourbon + Japanese Single Malt)
- MASH BILL: Blend of four components — 10-year Kentucky bourbon (74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley), 16-year Kentucky bourbon (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley), Komagatake 5-year Japanese single malt (100% malted barley, Umeshu barrel aged), Tsunuki 5-year Japanese single malt (100% malted barley, sakura/cherry wood barrel aged)
- AGE: Components range from 5 to 16 years; blended and aged an additional 12 months.
- YEAR: 2026
- PROOF: 109.8 (54.9% % ABV)
- MSRP: $99 / 375ml
- BUY ONLINE: Distillery exclusive sold only at BBC's distillery or tasting room in Louisville, Ky.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE: Caramelized cherries and plums, toasted oak, vanilla, floral notes — rich and inviting.
PALATE: Sweet fruit forward — plum, cherry, floral — with vanilla and caramel underneath; tannins and baking spice arrive just enough to remind you this is serious whiskey.
FINISH: Medium to long, warm, spice-forward fade.
My Japanese is rusty. Thankfully, my taste buds still work. Watch the full review.
Reviewer's Verdict
RATING: Bottle
WORTH THE PRICE: Yes — with the caveat that $99 for a 375ml is a real commitment. You're paying for something genuinely unique, and it delivers. But eyes open: you're getting half a bottle.
WHO IT'S FOR: Bourbon drinkers curious about Japanese whiskey who aren't sure they want to commit to a full bottle of something unfamiliar. Also, for anyone who's tried Japanese whiskey and found it a bit too far outside their normal palate preferences. It's approachable, sweet, and well-crafted. And if you already love Japanese whiskey, this is an easy yes.
REVIEWER'S VERDICT: I didn't know what to expect coming into this one. A collaboration between Bardstown Bourbon Company and Mars Whisky, blending Kentucky bourbon with Japanese single malts aged in Umeshu and sakura barrels? On paper, getting Kentucky bourbon and Japanese single malts to play nice together sounds like a tall order, especially when you don't want one to steamroll the other. Bourbon is heavy-handed by nature, and Japanese whisky follows more of a Scotch profile, more grain-forward with lighter flavor notes and sometimes, smoke and peat. It's not a pairing that many folks are probably sitting around hoping someone would put some effort behind. But once it's in the glass, it's pretty clear that BBC and Mars figured it out.
The nose stops you. Caramelized cherries and plums, toasted oak, vanilla, all the warmth you want from bourbon, but with this bright, fruity lift on top. None of that 100% malted barley character that bourbon drinkers sometimes struggle to wrap their palate around. It just smells gorgeous.
The palate is sweet. Genuinely sweet, not artificially flavored sweet. Think of a great dessert wine that grew up and started drinking whiskey. The fruit carries through from the nose, and the tannins and spice show up just in time to keep it honest. This isn't some artificially sweetened whiskey trying to appeal to people who don't actually like whiskey. It's just a well-made spirit that leads with sweetness and doesn't apologize for it
The Umeshu barrel influence on the Komagatake is the note I keep coming back to. Plum liqueur is a big, easy flavor in Japan, and it comes through clearly here. The Tsunuki aged in sakura barrels brings a delicate cherry note that ties the whole thing together.
This was released on May 29th, sold exclusively at the BBC gift shop for $99 for a 375ml. It's probably gone. If you find a pour somewhere, take it. If you somehow find a bottle, don't think about it too long.
It may be the best thing BBC has done in the Distillery Reserve series. I liked the Mizunara Oak release. This is better.
Disclaimer
This bottle found its way to us compliments of the brand. What ends up on the page is ours alone — and they knew that going in. Around here, honesty isn't a policy. It's the whole damn point.
About Our Rating System
Bourbon & Banter uses a three-tier rating system created over a decade ago: Bottle, Bar, or Bust.
- 🍾 Bottle — Buy it. This one deserves a place in your cabinet. (Approximate equivalent: 85 and above on a 100-point scale)
- 🥃 Bar — Worth trying, but not necessarily worth owning. Find it at a bar before committing to a bottle. (Approximate equivalent: 70–84)
- 💀 Bust — Skip it. Life is too short and your shelf space too valuable. (Approximate equivalent: below 70)
Numeric scores imply a precision that doesn't exist — and most publications never score below 80, making half the scale meaningless. We'd rather answer the question that actually matters: buy it, try it at a bar before you buy, or skip it. The approximate equivalents above are for reference only.