Information on the release of the new product “THE SUN 2022” was released on the official Twitter page of Saburomaru Distillery.
The product concept is “a peppy and aromatic collaboration of Saburomaru malt and home-aged grain”.
The release date is July 11, 2022. Lottery applications have started on the official website.
There is a quiz as usual for the lottery sales at Saburomaru distillery. There is only one question this time, and it is a gentle question this time from the viewpoint of the difficulty level of the past quizzes. Is it really that easy? Is there a pitfall? I think so.
1. About the lottery application
Lottery applications are now open to “Me and ALC” members only.
Registration is required. You can apply for the lottery after registering as a member.
Click here for the application page.
Application period: Wednesday, June 29, 12:30 p.m. to Monday, July 4, 23:59 p.m.
Lottery results: Winners will be notified directly by e-mail. The exact date and time are unknown.
2. THE SUN 2022
The majority of the 2018 distilled Saburomaru malt is made mainly from Mizunara and sherry casks from Toga, Toyama Prefecture, bringing out a variety of aromas, peppiness, and an oakiness derived from Mizunara. The blend of grains aged for more than 12 years in roasted casks from Iba and wine casks from Nagano are used to combine and support the multilayered aroma.
Reference: Saburomaru Blended Whisky: A New Frontier｜Wakatsuru Brewery
The product is a blend of malt distilled at the Saburomaru distillery and grain distilled at the distillery.
The grain is aged for more than 12 years and is “home-aged”, and although it is not stated, it may be made from overseas grains.
Product name | THE SUN 2022 |
|---|---|
| Sake type | Blended whisky |
| Ingredients | Malt, Grain |
| Casks | Quercus, Sherry, and other types of casks |
| Number of bottles | Limited to 5,320 bottles |
| Strength | 48% (with a minimum of 2,000 bottles) |
| Price | Suggested retail price: 10,780 yen (tax included) |
| Place of production | Saburomaru Distillery |
| Manufacturer | Wakatsuru Shuzo Co. |
3. About Saburomaru Distillery
The only whisky distillery in Hokuriku, founded in 1952.
Amidst the postwar rice shortage, they obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952. Since then, they have been brewing sake in winter Whisky distilled only during summer In the winter, they brew 200 bottles of sake. They make 200 bottles a year. They are planning to make 300 bottles in the future.
Since the beginning, they have been particular about smoky whisky, using Islay peated malt and recently Toyama peated malt The whisky is brewed with Islay peated malt and more recently with In order to preserve the natural flavor, no cooling filtration or coloring is used.
In 2018, we installed a state-of-the-art mash tun from Miyake Manufacturing.
In 2019, we collaborated with a local company, Oigo Seisakusho, to develop a cast pod still “ZEMON”to develop a cast pod still.
In 2020, one wooden vat fermenter was installed.
The main difference from other distilleries is the world’s first cast pod still. “ZEMON” The distillery uses the world’s first cast pod still, “ZEMON”. 
There are three main features.
(1) The casting method enables mold forming and quick delivery. Also, it is possible to add sufficient wall thickness at a low cost, which increases the service life of the main body.
(2) Free molding by the casting method allows for a variety of sake qualities. Also, by unitizing the parts, it is possible to replace only worn parts or expand the functions.
(3) 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 mellow the taste of alcohol. It is said to be the most expensive metal in the world, and has been used for sake vessels and shochu coolers. ZEMON contributes to the production of high quality spirits through the dual effects of copper and tinto the production of high quality spirits. It is also used as a cooler for sake and shochu.
Reference: Wakatsuru Sake Brewery official website
4. Blended Whiskies from Saburomaru Distillery released in the past
4-1. Saburomaru Gyokuto edition 2021
https://en.jpwhisky.net/2021/06/22/gyokuto2021-2/
4-2. moonglow limited edition 2020
https://en.jpwhisky.net/2021/01/15/moon-glow-limited-edition2020-2/
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.
