Blended whisky comes from both malt and grain. It's distilled at japan's highest distillery, mars shinshu distillery. The whisky is named after kiichiro iwai, known as "the silent pioneer of japan whisky," and the former mentor of masataka taketsuru, the founder of nikka and suntory whisky. On the nose are sherried notes, peat and malt. The palate is peppery with flavors of ripe cherry, honey and toffee with a beautiful ginger spice. The finish is long, crispy and rounded.