Japanese Whisky Tasting at Cheese & Cheers
Date: Sun, 5th July, 2026
Time: 10:00
Discover elegant and refined whiskies from Japan at Cheese & Cheers starting on Sunday, July 5th and continuing throughout the month. Taste four Japanese whiskies, two new to Cheese & Cheers, for this special tasting flight for $25.
Japan started producing whisky in the early 1900’s, heavily influenced by the Scottish whisky style at the time. Now days the Japanese whisky style has varied, with grain, single malts, and blends, from light and floral, through to heavily Sherry influenced.
Nikka Days: Nikka Days has been developed for whisky lovers who appreciate fine drinks on any casual day, based on the concept 'whisky for every day.' A delicate balance is achieved by the skillful blending of mellow grain whiskies and slightly peated malts. With impressive floral aromas, this expression offers an extremely silky mouthfeel and fruity flavours that rise and expand, leaving behind a delightful aftertaste. Its round bottle and bright coloured label visualize the taste profile of the whisky inside and enhance a vibrant mood. This whisky can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in a simple highball or refreshing cocktail.
Mars Iwai: Kiichiro Iwai, the namesake for this Mars Whisky, was a silent pioneer of Japan whisky. This whisky is inspired by great whiskies of America with a majority of corn balanced with light malt aged in ex-Bourbon barrels. Ideal for daily sipping, in a mint julep, or an old fashioned. A rich gold whisky with light, sweet and floral fragrances with notes of sweet pear and dark cacao.
NEW Mars Tradition: Situated between the north and south Japanese alps, Mars' Shinshu Distillery is Japan’s highest in altitude whisky distillery, at nearly 800 meters above sea level. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century, and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949 in Kagoshima. That was the southernmost whisky made in Japan until 1984, when all whisky production was moved to the current location in Nagano. This is malt-driven spirit is truly a reflection of contemporary Japanese whisky. Incredibly balanced, soft and layered. A blending of ex-Sherry, ex-Bourbon, and ex-wine casks with hints delicate hints of peat make for a harmonious whisky that would make Iwai-san proud. A rich gold whisky with complex, sweet honey and malt fragrances.
NEW Mars Cosmo: From the Shinshu Distillery, Mars' Maltage 'Cosmo' is a blended malt whisky expressing a rich and intensely greedy aromatic profile, which will bring you into a charming Japanese and Scottish taste universe, carefully built around the two producing countries craftmanship. The result is a tasty blend of sweet flavors such as honey, caramel and ripened fruits, subtly highlighted by some woody and smoky hints. Aged in ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and American white oak casks. 'Cosmo' is the name of a mountain in the Japan Central Alps close to the Mars Distillery location. The 'Cosmo' won Double Gold in the NZ Spirit Awards.
Cheese & Cheers is open every day from 10am to 5pm and located in the Vines Village at 193 Rapaura Road, Marlborough.
Japan started producing whisky in the early 1900’s, heavily influenced by the Scottish whisky style at the time. Now days the Japanese whisky style has varied, with grain, single malts, and blends, from light and floral, through to heavily Sherry influenced.
Nikka Days: Nikka Days has been developed for whisky lovers who appreciate fine drinks on any casual day, based on the concept 'whisky for every day.' A delicate balance is achieved by the skillful blending of mellow grain whiskies and slightly peated malts. With impressive floral aromas, this expression offers an extremely silky mouthfeel and fruity flavours that rise and expand, leaving behind a delightful aftertaste. Its round bottle and bright coloured label visualize the taste profile of the whisky inside and enhance a vibrant mood. This whisky can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in a simple highball or refreshing cocktail.
Mars Iwai: Kiichiro Iwai, the namesake for this Mars Whisky, was a silent pioneer of Japan whisky. This whisky is inspired by great whiskies of America with a majority of corn balanced with light malt aged in ex-Bourbon barrels. Ideal for daily sipping, in a mint julep, or an old fashioned. A rich gold whisky with light, sweet and floral fragrances with notes of sweet pear and dark cacao.
NEW Mars Tradition: Situated between the north and south Japanese alps, Mars' Shinshu Distillery is Japan’s highest in altitude whisky distillery, at nearly 800 meters above sea level. The Hombo family have been distilling for more than a century, and they added whisky to their repertoire in 1949 in Kagoshima. That was the southernmost whisky made in Japan until 1984, when all whisky production was moved to the current location in Nagano. This is malt-driven spirit is truly a reflection of contemporary Japanese whisky. Incredibly balanced, soft and layered. A blending of ex-Sherry, ex-Bourbon, and ex-wine casks with hints delicate hints of peat make for a harmonious whisky that would make Iwai-san proud. A rich gold whisky with complex, sweet honey and malt fragrances.
NEW Mars Cosmo: From the Shinshu Distillery, Mars' Maltage 'Cosmo' is a blended malt whisky expressing a rich and intensely greedy aromatic profile, which will bring you into a charming Japanese and Scottish taste universe, carefully built around the two producing countries craftmanship. The result is a tasty blend of sweet flavors such as honey, caramel and ripened fruits, subtly highlighted by some woody and smoky hints. Aged in ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and American white oak casks. 'Cosmo' is the name of a mountain in the Japan Central Alps close to the Mars Distillery location. The 'Cosmo' won Double Gold in the NZ Spirit Awards.
Cheese & Cheers is open every day from 10am to 5pm and located in the Vines Village at 193 Rapaura Road, Marlborough.
Location:The Vines Village, 193 Rapaura Road, Rapaura 7273
