The "MARS MALT Le Papillon" series expresses the splendor of Japan's lush nature and the seasonal climates that form the maturing environment of our whisky, using butterflies native to Japan as motifs.
This edition features the Kiberitateha (Camberwell Beauty), a butterfly that primarily inhabits broadleaf forests at altitudes around 1,500 to 2,500 meters in Honshu. Known as the "Lady of the Highlands," its wings are bordered in yellow with a row of brilliantly shining lapis lazuli spots inside. Inspired by its elegant figure, this exquisite Triple Cask Single Malt Whisky is crafted by vatting malt whiskies distilled at the Mars Komagatake Distillery and matured in French oak casks.


With its chic appearance, the Kiberitateha is often called the "Lady of the Highlands". During my elementary school days, I spent my summer vacations with my grandmother in Shinshu, but this magnificent butterfly was a rare sight I might encounter only once or twice a summer. My first encounter was by the remains of a bonfire in a corner of the yard. I still cannot forget the overwhelming presence it had as it fluttered fiercely inside my net. Eventually, I came to realize that this butterfly appears in the latter half of summer. Yes, encountering this admired butterfly also signaled the end of a long summer vacation that had once seemed eternal. Perhaps this "Lady of the Highlands," which evoked such complex feelings, made me grow up just a little.
This Triple Cask Single Malt Whisky, reminiscent of the "Lady of the Highlands," is crafted by vatting three selected casks of malt whiskies distilled at the Mars Komagatake Distillery in 2017 and matured in French oak casks.
Photography and Text by Shuichi Ogino