Review of YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese whisky Azumi Doppelbock Cask Finish from Sasanokawa Shuzo.Features, price, and how to purchase.
1. product name and photo
YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese whisky Azumi Doppelbock Cask Finish
Yamazakura Single Malt Japanese Whisky ASAKA Doppelbock Cask Finish
２．Characteristics of ASAKA Doppelbock Cask Finish
This is the second barrel relay project with HOPGARDEN Shuzo (HOP JAPAN) in Miyakoji-machi, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The barrel aged Doppelbock will be released in 2023 using the barrels that used to contain the Azumi Distillery’s peated sake. The 4 year old non-peated Azumi sake was then transferred to the barrels that were returned and finished.
The full maltiness and earthy flavor characteristic of boxtiles are matched with the citrus and sweetness unique to Azumi, creating a complex and unique character. The casks that used to contain Islay Peated and Azumi Peated are used, and the lingering smoky flavors add further depth.
Reference: Sasanokawa Shuzo Instagram
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Roasted lemon, refreshing acidity from hops, malt vinegar |
| Taste | Savory sweetness with maltiness, mild acidity like tangerine and Iyoma |
| Aftertaste | Aromatic roastiness and peat linger with a complex aftertaste. |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 55% (55% alcohol by volume) |
| By Sake | Single Malt Japanese whisky |
| Barrel Type | July 2019 – August 2023 First Fill Bourbon Casks August 2023 – September 2024 Doppelbock casks (beer casks) |
| Content Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 699 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 13,970 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | February 2025 |
3. Awards
No awards received at this time.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese whisky, Azumi Doppelbock Cask Finish |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 12,100 yen (including tax) |
4-２．Resale price on Mercari
Resale price on Mercariis around the regular price ~13,000 yen. (*As of 5/29/2024)
4-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
Sold price on Yahoo! Auction could not be confirmed. (*Statistics for the past 180 days from 5/29/2024)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
Fixed prices were confirmed for sales on mail order sites. (*as of 5/29/2024)
4-5. Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, it is offered in small quantities such as 1 cup, 45ml: 3,960 yen 30ml: 2,640 yen, 15ml: 1,320 yen.
5. Who is the Sasanokawa Shuzo?
Sasanokawa Shuzo Co.
With over 250 years of history as a sake Shuzo, the Sasanokawa Shuzo obtained a license to produce whisky in 1946, continued to release products such as the YAMAZAKURA series, and in 2016 established the Azumi Distillery as a project to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding.
The Azumi Distillery has been gaining recognition both domestically and internationally every year, as evidenced by the fact that its Yamazakura Blended Malt Japanese whisky Azumi Sherry Wood Reserve won the world’s highest award in the Blended Malt whisky category at the World Whisky Awards (WWA) 2022.
The distillery has also achieved the feat of winning GOLD or higher in all of the 2025 WWAs.
| Establishment | 1765 (Meiwa 2) |
| Head office location | 1-178 Sasagawa, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima 963-0108 |
| Owned Distilleries | Azumi Distillery |
6.Azumi distillery
| Address | 1-178 Sasagawa, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima |
| Start of operation | 1946 (old facility), resumed distillation in April 2016 (new facility) |
Started operation in 1765
1920 Yamaguchi Shuzo Co.
1932 Yamazakura Shuzo Limited Partnership established
1946 whisky production license obtained.
1966 Sasanokawa Shuzo Co.
1983 Completed construction of whisky malt storage facility
1998 Yamazakura Shuzo and Sasanokawa Shuzo merge, with Sasanokawa Shuzo Co.
2004 Receives stored whisky from Toa Shuzo.
2005 Ichiro’s Malt is released, planned by Venture whisky. (The manufacturer column on the back label of the bottle is Sasanokawa Shuzo)
2016 Azumi distillery starts full-scale operations.
Yamazakura Shuzo, founded in 1710 south of Lake Inawashiro, moved to Koriyama in 1765.
This Yamazakura Shuzo was the first to obtain a license to brew whisky in 1946, when the demand for whisky increased as a national policy during the postwar American military occupation.
The shortage of rice during and after the war made it extremely difficult to brew sake, and the influx of Western culture after the war was also a factor in the company’s efforts to make whisky.
In the 1950s and 1960s, during the period of rapid economic growth, Sakemnokawa’s ” Cherry whisky ” gained popularity along with Toa Shuzo and Hombo Shuzo, and was called “Cherry of the North, Toa of the East, Mars of the West”.
However, with the slow growth and changing tastes, Toa was forced to withdraw from the business in 2003, and Sasanokawa took care of the barrels of the original whisky at the distillery in Hanyu.
This was a big help for the release of Ichiro’s Malt, which later became popular worldwide.
Since the end of the war, the distillery has continued to produce whisky in small quantities, and currently uses two types: a Scotch type and a malt type imported from Kentucky.
The Azumi distillery is located in the Sasanokawa Shuzo, a sake brewery that has been in operation since the Edo period, and started operation at the end of October 2016 with production facilities and the cooperation of Chichibu distiller Ichiro Hido.
The pot stills look good against the traditional white plaster walls.
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(Image credit: Azumi Distillery’s official Facebook page )
For more information about Azumi Distillery, please visit
7. Summary
This is the second joint production with HOP JAPAN. The last one was an Azumi IPA cask finish, but this time it is a doppelbock style beer cask finish, known as “drinkable bread”.
Since the casks originally contained peated base alcohol, a slight peat flavor can be detected, although non peated base alcohol from Azumi is used.
A rare type of cask finish in Japan.
We hope all whisky lovers will give it a try.
Please take a look at other articles about Azumi Distillery.
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.
