MARS - Wa Bi Gin - Japanese Gin - 45%
Shinshu Distillery is owned by Hombo Shuzo (sometimes also called Hombo Brewing Co.) and produces whiskey sold under the Mars Whiskey brand. Since 2016, the distillery also produces a Gin. Hombo Shuzo was founded in 1872 by Honbu Matsusa, 800 meters above sea level in the village of Miyata on the Japanese island of Kyushu . In 1949, the company acquired a license to produce whiskey at the Kagoshima distillery, but later transferred its whiskey-making business to the Shinshu distillery. While low demand for whiskey at this time led to a temporary halt in production in 1992, normal service resumed in 2012.
Gin Wa Bi (meaning "Japanese beauty") is made from 11 botanicals , 9 of which are produced locally in Kagoshima Prefecture.