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Sasanokawa Shuzo has launched its Asaka RED IPA Cask. Here’s an introduction to this beer, which is packed with the unique character of the cask.
1. Product Name and Photo
YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese Whisky Asaka RED IPA Cask Finish
YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese Whisky ASAKA RED IPA Cask Finish 
2. Features of the Asaka RED IPA Cask Finish
Unpeated base spirit aged in first-fill bourbon barrels at the Asaka Distillery was further matured in barrels previously used for “Barrel Aged Imperial RED IPA” at “HOPGARDEN BREWERY” in Miyakoji, Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The spicy and sweet notes characteristic of a RED IPA—which incorporates rye and roasted malt—blend with Asaka’s sweet and floral aroma and flavor. Pleasant hop and citrus flavors, along with the natural sweetness derived from the malt and cask, linger on the palate.
Source: Sasanokawa Shuzo Instagram
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Smoked lemon salt, tangy rye bread, blood orange juice, mint, and white pepper |
| Taste | Tropical citrus acidity, peppermint, sour cream, and roasted nuts when diluted with water |
| Finish | After the striking acidity and spiciness, a rich, toasty malt-derived sweetness lingers |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 55% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Cask Type |
1st-fill Bourbon Barrel, 5 years and 2 months Beer Cask (Imperial RED IPA) – Aged for an additional 1 year and 2 months |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles Sold | Unknown |
| Suggested Retail Price | 15,400 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | July 2026 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received to date.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | YAMAZAKURA Single Malt Japanese Whisky Asaka RED IPA Cask Finish |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 15,400 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari are currently unavailable. (*As of July 1, 2026)
4-3. Winning Bid Price on Yahoo! Auctions
We were unable to confirm the winning bid prices on Yahoo! Auctions. (As of July 1, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, and Amazon
Sales on these online shopping sites could not be confirmed. (As of July 1, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer even small portions, such as 45 ml for 4,620 yen, 30 ml for 3,080 yen, and 15 ml for 1,540 yen.
5. What Is Sasanokawa Shuzo?
Sasanokawa Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Sasanokawa Shuzo has a history as a Shuzo spanning over 250 years. The company obtained a Whisky production license in 1946 and has continued to release products such as the YAMAZAKURA series. In 2016, as part of its 250th-anniversary commemorative projects, it established the “Asaka Distillery.”
At the Asaka Distillery, the “Yamazakura Blended Malt Japanese Whisky Asaka Sherry Wood Reserve” won the World’s Best Award in the Blended Malt Whisky category at the “WWA (World Whisky Awards)2022, ” where its“Yamazakura Blended Malt Japanese Whisky Asaka Sherry Wood Reserve ” won the world’s top award in the Blended Malt Whisky category, and its reputation continues to grow both domestically and internationally year after year.
It also achieved the remarkable feat of earning nothing but GOLD or higher awards at the WWA in fiscal year 2025.
Currently, the distillery also organizes the “Koriyama Whisky Collection” event, which has gained significant popularity.
| Established | 1765 |
| Headquarters Address | 1-178 Sasagawa, Koriyama-City, Fukushima Prefecture 963-0108 |
| Distilleries Owned | Asaka Distillery |
6. Asaka Distillery
| Location | 1-178 Sasagawa, Koriyama-City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Start of Operations | 1946 (old facilities), April 2016 (new facilities) – Distillation resumed |
1765 Commencement of Operations
1920 Yamaguchi Shuzo Co., Ltd. established
1932 Yamazakura Shuzo Limited Partnership established
1946 Obtained a Whisky production license
1966 Sasanokawa Shuzo Co., Ltd. established
1983 Completion of the malt whisky warehouse
1998 Yamazakura Shuzo and Sasanokawa Shuzo merged, with Sasanokawa Shuzo Co., Ltd. as the surviving company
2004 Assumed custody of Whisky previously stored by Toa Shuzo.
2005 Released “Ichiro’s Malt,” a project planned by Venture Whisky. (The “Producer” field on the back label of the bottle lists Sasanokawa Shuzo.)
2016 The Asaka Distillery began full-scale operations.
Yamazakura Shuzo, founded in 1710 south of Lake Inawashiro, relocated to Koriyama in 1765.
This same Yamazakura Shuzo was the catalyst when it obtained a Whisky distilling license in 1946, driven by a national policy to meet the increased demand for Whisky under the postwar U.S. military occupation.
With sake brewing becoming extremely difficult due to rice shortages during and after the war, the influx of Western culture in the postwar period also served as a factor in the company’s decision to pursue Whisky production.
During the period of rapid economic growth in the Showa 50s and 60s, the industry was known as “Cherry in the North, Toa in the East, and Mars in the West,” and Sasanokawa Shuzo’s “Cherry Whisky,” along with those from Toa Shuzo and Hombo Shuzo, gained immense popularity.
However, as the industry faced a difficult period due to slow economic growth and changing consumer preferences, Toa was forced to withdraw from the business in 2003, and Sasanokawa took custody of the barrels of unblended whisky stored at the Hanyu Distillery.
This played a major role in the launch of “Ichiro’s Malt,” which would later become a global sensation.
Although whisky production has continued in small quantities since the postwar period, the distillery currently uses two types of malt Scotch-style and malt imported from Kentucky.
The Asaka Distillery is located within “Sasanokawa Shuzo,” a Shuzo that has been in operation since the Edo period. Production facilities were completed at the end of October 2016, and operations began with the cooperation of Ichiro Akuto of the Chichibu Distillery.
The pot stills stand out beautifully against the traditional white plaster walls.
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Image source: Asaka Distillery Official Facebook
Please also see the link below for more information on Asaka Distillery.
7. Summary
This beer was brewed using a rare type of beer barrel—specifically, a barrel previously used to age an Imperial Red IPA.
Perhaps because the original beer was a RED IPA made with rye and roasted malt, you can sense the spicy notes inherent to that style, as well as a different side to the beer compared to Asaka’s usual Japanese citrus flavors.
Adding water mellows the acidity, allowing you to enjoy more aromatic, malty nuances.
This is a Whisky best enjoyed first neat, then gradually diluted with water to savor over a long period.
■ Be sure to check out our other articles on “Asaka Distillery.”
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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.
