Tokyu Hotels and Hombo Shuzo proudly present the Japanese whisky, Special Edition Gotoh.
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Following the success of Komagatake in 2024, this second cask was born at the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Minami Satsuma, Kagoshima, where tradition, water, and nature converge. Each glass paints the evening with its own quiet story, unfolding gently across the bar counter.
62% ABV. Singular in its strength and character.
A dram of smoke, crafted for connoisseurs.
Nestled in the verdant mountains of Minami Satsuma, the Mars Tsunuki Distillery has long been the home of Hombo Shuzo. With over a century of shochu-making heritage, its craftsmen have mastered the climate and the pure spring waters of Kurata-yama, harnessing nature, time, and human skill to create new value in Japanese whisky.
From among six contenders, one exceptional cask was chosen—matured for seven years in a Cognac barrel, peated at 50 ppm, and bottled at cask strength, 62%. Unlike the smooth, broadly loved style of Japanese whisky, Tsunuki Gotoh carries a smoky core, balanced by a delicate fruit sweetness imparted by the Cognac cask. A rare whisky with true individuality. 
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Katsuya Konishi, bartender at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA KYOTO TOKYU, A Pan Pacific Hotel, shares his recommendations:
Tsunuki Gotoh is a whisky that is best enjoyed at the bar. Begin by savouring it neat, then explore how the character evolves at different dilutions—58%, 55%, 53%. With just a few drops of water, notes of gentle acidity and ripe red fruits such as raspberry emerge from behind the smoke. Lowering the strength further reveals layers of vanilla and honey. Each glass offers multiple expressions, a journey in itself.
Konishi notes that what makes Tsunuki Gotoh fascinating is its ability to reveal different faces within a single glass. He also suggests serving it as a dining companion:
Try it in a highball chilled to lock in the aroma. It’s an astonishingly deep whisky, the kind one rarely encounters—honestly, a bottle I’d prefer to keep hidden.
And of course, guests can enjoy Tsunuki Gotoh in Kyoto as well, where Konishi awaits behind the counter. 
Kyoto French Nananoichi
- Blending French sophistication with Japanese sensibilities, Nananoichi offers a refined dining experience in Kyoto. Within its bar, every journey is enriched with flavour, where bartender Katsuya Konishi recommends Tsunuki Gotoh.
“Even those new to whisky will find a way to enjoy it to their satisfaction,” he assures. 
About Katsuya Konishi
- Bartender at Nananoichi. After joining Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, he has been based at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA since 2022. Winner of the Hard Cider Division at the 8th HBA Junior Cocktail Competition, Kirin Cup & Cocktail Festival 2015, among other honours. In 2024, he earned the Grand Prix at the 1st Tokyu Hotels Cocktail Competition.
The Mars Tsunuki Distillery
- The Mars Tsunuki Distillery stands amid the lush mountains of Minami Satsuma, embraced by the Kurata and Nagaya ranges. This valley, blessed with sharp day–night temperature contrasts and the soft spring waters of Kurata-yama, is the birthplace of Hombo Shuzo. Within its warehouses, a wealth of casks rest in silence, nurturing aromas and flavours that mature with the changing seasons.
Before the chosen cask, bartenders and hotel staff studied the aromas with serious concentration. Konishi was among the tasting members. The six casks considered included Sherry, Mizunara, and Rum. Looking back, Konishi recalls:
Compared with the 2024 Komagatake, this selection marked a bold new course. The decisive factor was its striking individuality.
Tsunuki Gotoh will be available from 1 November 2025 at the bars of 15 Tokyu Hotels nationwide.
