Honbo Shuzo

About the distillery (in brief)

Honbo Shuzo is a Japanese producer with roots going back to 1872 and a clear whisky profile under the Mars name. In particular, Komagatake and Tsunuki stand out as markers of the company’s whisky work, while the visitor experiences are gathered across multiple facilities in both Nagano and Kagoshima. The whole is characterized by a focus on water, nature, and craftsmanship.

History

Honbo Shuzo was founded in 1872 and has since developed from a single producer into a company with multiple beverage categories. Today, the portfolio spans shochu, wine, liqueur, spirits, and whisky, but the whisky side is especially visible through the Mars brand. The presentation also highlights the company’s connection to Japan’s own nature and climate conditions, and that link is echoed in both naming, brands, and visitor locations. This gives a picture of a producer where whisky does not stand alone, but is part of a broader drinking culture rooted in the company’s long history.

Ingredients and production

The company describes its work as something that begins with water, and it emphasizes that production is connected to nature and human craftsmanship. Whisky is made under the Mars name, and the specific visitor locations point to a structure with separate facilities in Nagano and Kagoshima. The text does not provide details about mashing, fermentation, distillation, or raw materials, but it clearly shows that the identity is built around Japanese origin and regional production environments. For whisky lovers, this is especially interesting because the production is placed within a landscape of multiple distilleries and a strong local foundation, rather than a single central narrative.

Whiskies

The whisky portfolio, as shown here, is centered on the Mars names Komagatake and Tsunuki. Both are associated with Japanese whisky and with a profile in which single malt and single cask are mentioned as key designations. It looks like an assortment that works with several expressions within the same base brand, rather than a large number of entirely separate series. At the same time, the company’s other presentation supports that the whisky is part of a broader house with shochu, wine, and liqueur, giving Mars whisky a place within a larger family of Japanese drinks.

General tasting profile

Visit the distillery

Yes, the company has a clear visitor universe. There are visit opportunities at マルス駒ヶ岳蒸溜所 in Nagano, マルス津貫蒸溜所 in Kagoshima, Mars Yamanashi Winery, Mars Hosaka Winery, and 屋久島伝承蔵. Since it gathers them as a visitor section, but the provided text does not state opening hours, booking conditions, or specific experience types such as tours and tastings. This means that it’s possible to see that access to experiences exists across the facilities, while the practical details are not spelled out in the text provided here.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

The company’s philosophy is formulated very briefly and concretely: "森の力、人の技。" and "水からはじまるものづくり。" In addition, there is a clear emphasis on Japanese terroir, expressed as whisky made based on the country’s own nature and風土. This points to a house where water, nature, and craftsmanship are not decoration, but the very starting point for production.

Prices and awards

• 第5回 酒屋が選ぶ焼酎大賞 (2026, Award)

• SFWSC 2026 Best Gold Award (2026, Best Gold Award)

• IWSC 2026 Spirits Division Gold Award (2026, Gold Award)

Latest news

New product announcement 「Single Malt Komagatake IPA Cask Finish Bottled in 2026」 – 2026-07-14

The company announces a new release under the Komagatake name: Single Malt Komagatake IPA Cask Finish, bottled in 2026.

Report on winning the 5th Sakaya ga Erabu Shochu Taisho – 2026-07-24

Honbo Shuzo informs that the company has received an award at the 5th edition of Sakaya ga Erabu Shochu Taisho.

Report on winning the SFWSC 2026 Best in Class Gold Award – 2026-06-29

The company discloses that it has received a best-in-class gold medal at SFWSC 2026.

Report on winning Gold in the Spirits Division at IWSC 2026 – 2026-06-15

Honbo Shuzo states that it has won gold in the spirits division at IWSC 2026.