Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Review | Kentucky Bourbon Meets Japanese Single Malt

Bardstown Bourbon Company
Distillery Reserve
Mars
Blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and single malt Japanese whisky
109.8 Proof
SRP: $99.99 (375mL)
Review

Please enjoy my Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Review!

Kentucky Bourbon Meets Japanese Single Malt

Bardstown Bourbon Company collaborated with Mars Whisky on Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend, combining mature Kentucky bourbon with Japanese single malt whisky from the Mars Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries. Both Japanese single malts were made from 100% malted barley and aged for five years, but their distinctive barrels contributed different characteristics to the final whiskey. The Komagatake single malt was aged in Umeshu (plum liqueur) barrels, while the Tsunuki single malt was aged in rare Sakura, or cherry wood, barrels.

The Japanese single malts were shipped to Bardstown, Kentucky, where they were introduced into barrels containing 10- and 16-year-old Kentucky bourbons. Rather than using a traditional finishing process, the Japanese whisky and Kentucky bourbon were aged together in the same barrels for 12 months. The limited release became available May 29, 2026.

Details – Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Review

• Producer: Bardstown Bourbon Company in collaboration with Mars Whisky
• Series: Distillery Reserve
• Release Date: May 29, 2026
• Co-Aging: Japanese single malt whisky and Kentucky bourbon aged together in the same barrels for 12 months
• Blend Components:
  • 69% 10-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey;
    mash bill of 74% corn, 18% rye and 8% malted barley
  • 8% 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey;
    mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley
  • 20% 5-year-old Komagatake Japanese Single Malt Whisky;
    100% malted barley and aged in Umeshu (plum liqueur) barrels
  • 3% 5-year-old Tsunuki Japanese Single Malt Whisky;
    100% malted barley and aged in Sakura (cherry wood) barrels
• Proof: 109.8
• ABV: 54.9%
• Bottle Size: 375mL
• SRP: $99.99
• Availability at Release: Exclusively at the Bardstown Bourbon Company distillery gift shop and the Louisville Tasting Room

Tasting Notes — Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻 Nose: Moderately sweet; sweet pears and apples; sweet stone fruits like dark cherries and ripe plums; rich dark caramel; mild tart orange citrus and a hint of oak later on; alcohol vapor a bit light for the proof
👉🏻 Taste: Mildly sweet; bright sweet fruits like apples and pears; caramel and a touch of light honey; mild tart orange citrus; sweet plums and cherries after a couple of sips; mild dry oak
👉🏻 Finish: Sweet delicious apples; mild oak and slowly growing white pepper spice and tart orange peel; quite dry later on; mild lingering fruit, moderate spice and mild dry wood in the end with a slight hint of peat; fairly long

Bright Fruit, Caramel and a Drying Finish

The nose of Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars starts off moderately sweet and bright, with sweet pears and apples up front and sweet stone fruits underneath. Rich dark caramel adds body, and mild tart orange citrus provides a nice contrast to the sweeter flavors. A hint of oak appears later on.

The taste is only mildly sweet, again with the bright, sweet fruits found in the nose. The apples and pears are up front, with the sweet cherries and plums appearing after a sip or two. Caramel and light honey add some richness and body.

The finish changes character a bit. The fruits turn to sweet delicious apples, which remain to the end. However, there is growing white pepper spice and tart orange peel, with the finish becoming increasingly dry. At the end, there is lingering spice, mild dry wood and sweet delicious apples. Mild oak is also present from the nose to the finish.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Is Truly a Combination of Its Components

All the components of Mars make a showing here. There are ample fruits, likely compliments of the Japanese single malts and their barrels. Not that some of the fruit flavors could not come from the bourbon as well. However, given their ages of 10 and 16 years, the bourbons are more likely contributing the caramel and mild oak throughout and the dryness and spice in the finish.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars is a delicious whiskey. The bright fruit flavors of the Japanese single malts meld perfectly with their 10- and 16-year bourbon counterparts. And do not worry—the hint of peat that I mention is truly a hint, like adding a pinch of salt to a recipe. You likely will not even notice it. If you are a fan of Japanese single malts, or honestly, single malts in general, I think you will love these flavors. For people like me who love both bourbon and single malts, this brings all those flavors together like few other whiskeys can. If you are like me, you will want to give Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars a try! Have you had it? What did you think? Cheers!

I hope you have enjoyed my Bardstown Bourbon Company Mars Review! Next, read these related reviews: Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garryana Oak Barrel Finish Bourbon Review and Bardstown Bourbon Company Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish Bourbon Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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