Saburomaru/Wakatsuru

Saburomaru/Wakatsuru

Saburomaru & Wakatsuru – Craft whisky from the traditional sake brewery in Toyama

The history of the Saburomaru distillery is closely linked to the Wakatsuru Shuzo family, whose roots trace back to 1862 as a sake brewery in Toyama Prefecture. Amidst the difficult post-war years, the company obtained a whisky production license in 1952 to overcome travel restrictions. Despite a devastating fire in 1953 that destroyed almost all of its equipment, the distillery persevered and resumed production using a French "allospas" still.

For decades, the distillery was primarily known for its inexpensive blends under the name "Sunshine." Today, under the leadership of Takahiko Inagaki, the son of the current president, the distillery is experiencing an impressive renaissance. With great dedication to craftsmanship and the use of crowdfunding, production has been modernized, with the focus now on high-quality single malts under the brand name Saburomaru . This name is derived directly from the district where the distillery is located.

A true milestone in the history of Japanese whisky is the Saburomaru 1960. Matured for 55 years in former red wine casks from Yamanashi, it is considered the oldest Japanese single malt ever bottled . Today's Saburomaru bottlings are often characterized by a robust, smoky flavor, reflecting the rugged beauty and cool climate of the Toyama coastal region. Discover this fascinating fusion of centuries-old brewing tradition and bold whisky pioneering spirit at Jwhisky.