“Single Malt Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS,” the fourth in the Single Malt Saburomaru series, will be released by Saburomaru Distillery on November 24, 2023.
Saburomaru Distillery has released information on the release of new products “Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS” and “Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS Cask Strength”.
This is the fourth release following “Saburomaru 0 THE FOOL” released in 2020, “Saburomaru I THE MAGICIAN” released in 2021, and “Saburomaru II THE HIGH PRIESTESS” released in 2021.
This will be the first single malt whisky from the Saburomaru Distillery to use Islay peat.
Lottery applications for “Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS Cask Strength” have been accepted at the Wakatsuru Shuzo online store “Me and ALC” since Thursday, November 17. Information on how to apply for the lottery will be provided later in the article.
1. Single Malt Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS
(Image source: Single Malt Whisky “Saburomaru III (third) THE EMPRESS” released | Saburomaru Distillery)
Earth, wood, and water. Think about a distant sacred place.
In 2020, Saburomaru Distillery began brewing with peat-smoked malt from Islay for the first time. Islay peat dug near the sea has a salty, gentle yet long aftertaste, and has a variety of expressions different from conventional inland peat. Furthermore, the wooden barrels introduced in this year enabled a variety of fermentations to be carried out using unique lactic acid bacteria.
The peat earth that has been accumulated over many years, the wooden vats that are hundreds of years old, and the water from Saburomaru that has been refined for decades come together in harmony, giving the whisky a rich color.
Takahiko Inagaki, Saburomaru Distillery
Reference: Single Malt Whisky “Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS” released | Saburomaru Distillery
The feature of Saburomaru III is that it is the first single malt whisky made with “Islay peat malt” for the first time at Saburomaru Distillery. Islay peat produces a distinctive smoky aroma, and unlike its inland counterparts, it is characterized by a sea air and softness that reminds one of the sea.
Label design
The label design for this work is “The Empress”.
The motif is based on Tarot cards (consisting of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), with the third of the 22 Major Arcana, THE EMPRESS, adopted. It represents the trinity of the fertile earth by Ira Pete, the wooden vat that has been aged for many years, and the water that has been carefully polished.
The work was created by Yukie Kano, a paper cut artist from Himi City.
(Image source: Single Malt Whisky “Saburomaru III (third) THE EMPRESS” released | Saburomaru Distillery)
Product specs
(Image source: Single Malt Whisky “Saburomaru III (Third) THE EMPRESS” released | Saburomaru Distillery)
| Product name |
Single Malt Saburomaru III |
Single Malt Saburomaru III |
| Distinction by alcohol | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Ingredients | Malt (Heavily Aired 50ppm) |
Malt |
| Cask Type | ー | ー |
| Number of bottles | 1800 bottles | 12,000 bottles |
| Alcohol content | 60% | 48% |
| Price | 19,800 yen (including tax) | 14,850 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactured at | Saburomaru Distillery | |
| Manufacturer | Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. | |
2. About Saburomaru Distillery
The only whisky distillery in Hokuriku, established in 1952.
They obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952 amidst the postwar rice shortage. Since then, they have been brewing sake in winter and distilling whisky during the rest of the year. They make 200 bottles of whisky a year. Plans are underway to make 300 bottles in the future.
Since the beginning of our operations, we have been committed to smoky whisky and brew our whisky with Islay peated malt and more recently peated malt from Toyama Prefecture. In order to preserve the natural flavor of the whisky, it is not cool-filtered or colored in any way.
In 2018, the company installed Miyake Industries Co.,Ltd. newest mashtan.
In 2019, he collaborated with a local company, OIGO WORKS Co., Ltd., to develop a cast pod still, “ZEMON”.
In 2020, one wooden vat fermenter was installed.
A major difference from other distilleries is the use of the world’s first cast pod still, “ZEMON”.
There are three major features.
(1)The casting method enables mold forming and quick delivery. Also, sufficient wall thickness can be provided at low cost, and a longer service life can be expected.
(2)Various qualities of alcohol can be achieved by free molding by casting. In addition, the unitization of individual parts allows for replacement of worn parts only and expansion of functions.
(3)It is made of a copper-tin alloy containing about 90% copper and 8% tin. Tin is a high-grade metal that is traded at about three times the price of copper.
Tin has been used since ancient times to mellow the taste of alcohol and has been used in alcohol vessels and shochu coolers. ZEMON contributes to the production of high quality spirits through the dual effects of copper and tin.
Reference: Wakatsuru Shuzo official website
3. Single malt whisky released in the past from Saburomaru Distillery
3-1. Single Malt Saburomaru II THE HIGH PRIESTESS
3-2. Single Malt Saburomaru I THE MAGICIAN
3-3. Single Malt Saburomaru 0 THE FOOL
4. Lottery application
The lottery for “Saburomaru III THE EMPRESS Cask Strength” is now open to “Me and ALC” members only.
You can apply for it by answering the quiz about Saburomaru Distillery, which has become a regular feature of the website.
The higher the percentage of correct answers and the more difficult the question, the higher the probability of winning the prize.
Registration as a “Me and ALC” member is required. ALC member’s customer ID is required at the time of application. Click here for the member application page.
■Application period: Friday, November 17, 2023 12:00 – Tuesday, November 21, 2023 23:59
■Only one application per person.
■After winning the prize, shipments will be made sequentially from Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
