The Y.A. Series (this is the first edition) is a blended malt, created to further explore the influence of the Mars aging cellar in Yakushima. Single malts from both Mars Shinshu, high up in the Alps, and Mars Tsunuki, in southern Kagoshima, are aged and blended on the remote island 135 kilometers south of Kagoshima. Yakushima is lush with subtropical evergreen forests and vegetation. Heavy precipitation, humidity, and coastal influence all contribute to the island’s fingerprint on the maturation of this whisky. It was distilled in copper pot stills from 100% malted barley, a blend of unpeated barley and peated (at 3.5 parts per million). It was matured primarily in ex-bourbon barrels along with some ex-sherry casks. There were 1740 bottles released in the US.