AS EARLY AS 2015, CHICHIBU DISTILLERY AND SHINSHU DISTILLERY (MARS) LAUNCHED A BASE LIQUOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN PURSUIT OF GREATER POSSIBILITIES IN TASTE. CHICHIBU HANDED OVER ITS BASE LIQUOR TO MARS FOR MATURATION AT THE SHINSHU DISTILLERY, AND MARS LIKEWISE PROVIDED ITS BASE LIQUOR TO CHICHIBU FOR MATURATION AT THE CHICHIBU DISTILLERY. THE SIX-YEAR MATURATION PERIOD PASSED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, AND CHICHIBU AND SHINSHU SEPARATELY LAUNCHED THE CHICHIBU AND KOMAGATAKE BLENDED MALT WHISKIES.

PRESIDENT MR. ITO ICHIRO OF CHICHIBU DISTILLERY ONCE SAID, "EXCHANGING BASE WHISKIES IS A GREAT WAY TO TEST THE CHANGES OF THE WHISKY IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS, AND IT IS ALSO A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISTILLERIES' BLENDERS TO HONE THEIR SKILLS, THEREBY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF JAPANESE WHISKY AT A TECHNICAL LEVEL." THIS METHOD CAN TEST THE MATURATION CONDITION OF THE BASE WHISKY IN DIFFERENT CLIMATES. WHAT DIFFERENCES WILL THERE BE WHEN THE SAME BARREL OF BASE WHISKY MATURES AT THE SHINSHU DISTILLERY LOCATED AT A HIGH ALTITUDE IN THE JAPANESE ALPS AND IN THE BASIN CLIMATE OF CHICHIBU? IT IS THIS GRASP OF DETAILS THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE CONTINUOUS PROGRESS OF THE TWO DISTILLERIES.

THIS LIQUOR IS BLENDED BY CHICHIBU DISTILLERY AND BOTTLED AT 53% ALCOHOL CONTENT, WITH A LIMITED PRODUCTION OF 10,200 BOTTLES. ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION, THIS LIQUOR HAS A REFRESHING FRUITY AROMA, WHILE THE SWEET MAPLE SYRUP SCENT IS STRONG AND VERY PLEASANT. ON THE PALATE, IT CONTINUES WITH THE FRUITY FLAVOR, FEATURING GREEN APPLE, GRAPE, AND WHITE PEACH AROMAS PAIRED WITH GRASSY AND WOODY NOTES. THE AFTERTASTE IS A TOUCH OF BITTERSWEET FROM BAKED BREAD, ENDING WITH A HINT OF SWEETNESS AND BITTERNESS.