We would like to express our deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan on April 3, 2024.
The whisky distillery in Toyama Prefecture, Saburomaru Distillery, will be releasing a charity bottle. They will donate all the proceeds excluding consumption tax and material costs.
1. About Saburomaru Distillery
| Location | 208, Saburomaru, Tonami, Toyama 939-1308 |
| Start of operation | 1953 (renovated in 2016) |
The only distillery in Hokuriku established in 1952.
It obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952 amidst the postwar rice shortage. Since then, they brew sake in winter and distill 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, they have been focusing on smoky whisky, using Islay peated malt and recently peated malt from Toyama Prefecture. 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 Seisakusho.
In 2019, we collaborated with a local company, Oigo Seisakusho, to develop a cast pod still, “ZEMON”.
In 2020, one wooden fermentation tank was introduced.
The major difference from other distilleries is the use of theworld’s first cast pod still “ZEMON”.
There are three major features.
(1) The casting method enables molding by molds, which makes it possible to manufacture in a short period of time. Also, it is possible to provide sufficient wall thickness at a low cost, and thus a longer service life can be expected for the 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 to mellow the taste of sake and has been used in sake 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
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
For more information about Saburomaru Distillery, please see also here↓.
2. From the distillery
The earthquake that hit Taiwan on April 3, 2024 caused great damage mainly in the eastern Hualien County. The Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024 raised over 2.5 billion yen in donations from Taiwanese people. We believe that now is the time to help and encourage each other, and we have decided to release this charity bottle to help the people of Taiwan.
Since 2014, when Wakatsuru Shuzo began exporting to overseas markets in earnest, we have been building a continuous relationship with our Taiwanese business partners. We also receive many visitors from Taiwan every year on tours of the Saburomaru Distillery. We hope to repay and support the people of Taiwan in any way we can through various activities in the future, including the release of this charity bottle.
The whisky to be released this time is a single malt whisky distilled at the Saburomaru Distillery in 2020 and aged for three years. It will be a smoky, heavily peated type whiskey that is characteristic of the Saburomaru Distillery. The label illustration shows the gate at the entrance to the East-West Cross-Island Highway, which connects the east and west sides of central Taiwan. The Truku National Park, located beyond this gate, was severely damaged by the earthquake. As a symbol of the ties between Japan and Taiwan, which are located in an east-west relationship, this label expresses our wish for reconstruction. We hope that this whisky will help the reconstruction of the affected areas as soon as possible. We would appreciate your understanding and assistance.
3. Charity Bottle Details
3-1. Product Specifications
| Product name | Single Cask Saburomaru Taiwan Charity Bottle |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Ingredients | Malt |
| Alcohol Content | 60％ |
| Year of distillation: Year of bottling | 2020: 2024 |
| Cask alcohol | Bourbon Barrel |
| Barrel No. | #200180 |
| Sales Price | 30,000 yen (excluding tax) *All proceeds, excluding consumption tax and material costs, will be donated. |
| Number of bottles sold | Domestic online store “Me and ALC.” 100 bottles (first-come, first-served) Taiwan Aren Trading Co., Ltd. 114 *All sales of Aren Trading Co., Ltd. will also be donated, excluding customs duties, consumption tax, transportation costs, etc. |
3-2. Bottle Concept
This single malt whisky is a cask selected by Mr. Takahiko Inagaki, the representative of Saburomaru Distillery. Inagaki has visited Taiwan many times to promote Japanese whisky and cultural exchange, and Michael Hsieh, president of Aren Trading Co. Mr. Hsieh purchased a portion of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Charity Bottle that was released in January of this year and donated it to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief Fund. With this background, this project was initiated with the hope of doing something to support the people of Taiwan.
4. First-come, first-served basis sales
[Sales Method]
Domestic: First-come, first-served sales (limited to 100 bottles) on the product page of the Wakatsuru Shuzo online store “Me and ALC.
*You can purchase the product without membership registration, but we recommend that you register in advance to facilitate smooth entry during the purchase process.
Sales start time: Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 12:30 p.m.
*Purchases can be made without membership registration. We recommend registering as a member in advance to ensure smooth entry on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Items will be shipped in June.
