Blended Malt Whisky “FAR EAST OF PEAT 7th BATCH” to be released on Tuesday, March 25, 2025
１．FAR EAST OF PEAT 7th BATCH
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1-1. Product Information
Wakatsuru Shuzo Company (Location: Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture; Representative: Takahiko Inagaki) is pleased to announce the sale of a limited quantity of blended malt whisky blended with Saburomaru Hebeley Peated Malt distilled in a cast iron pot still “ZEMON” and carefully selected peated Scotch malts The blended malt whisky will be sold in limited quantities.
FAR EAST OF PEAT FIRST BATCH and FAR EAST OF PEAT SECOND BATCH to be released in 2021.
FAR EAST OF PEAT THIRD BATCH” and “FAR EAST OF PEAT FOURTH BATCH” to be launched in 2022, followed by “FAR EAST OF PEAT 5th BATCH” in 2023 and “FAR EAST OF PEAT 6th BATCH” in 2024. The seventh “FAR EAST OF PEAT FOURTH BATCH” is scheduled to be released in 2024.Official comment from Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
About the “FAR EAST OF PEAT” series
FAR EAST OF PEAT is a blended malt series brought to you by Saburomaru Distillery.
The blends are made using only malt sake, mainly from the distillery’s own production. While expressing the individuality of the malt itself, multiple peated base liquors are used to create a smoky, rich flavor.1-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 50% alcohol by volume |
| By Alcohol | Blended Malt Whisky |
| Cask type | ‐ |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 7,200 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 8,800 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | March 25, 2025 (Tuesday) |
Saburomaru Heavy Peated Malt distilled in a cast iron pot still “ZEMON” blended with carefully selected peated Scotch malts.
Enjoy the rich flavor of using only malt base malt, and the smoky harmony of multiple peated base malts with different characteristics.
1-3. How to purchase
On sale at various sake retailers nationwide from March 25, 2025 (Tuesday).
Also available at Taishogura Shop ( https://www.wakatsuru.co.jp/taisyo/index.html) from the same date.
2. Saburomaru Distillery, Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
Wakatsuru Shuzo Company, which operates the Saburomaru Distillery, is a Shuzo with a very long history in Hokuriku, having started sake production in 1862 in Saburomaru Village, Tonami County, Toyama Prefecture.
After the end of World War II, in order to break out of a deadlock, the company conducted its own research on distilled spirits production and obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952.
Image Source: Saburomaru Distillery｜Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
In 2016, more than 60 years had passed since the first whisky was made and the distillery was aging. The distillery had been aging for more than 60 years since the first whisky was made, and the distillery was now in a state of disrepair. Therefore, we launched the ” Saburomaru Distillery Renovation Project” and challenged crowdfunding in order to secure funds.
With the passion for whisky making that has been preserved for more than 60 years and the challenge to develop Toyama whisky into a world-class whisky, we received 3,825,000 yen in support, far exceeding the 25 million yen goal. In 2023, the distillery will be reopened as Komada Distillery.
In 2023, an animated film titled ” Welcome to Komada Distillery ” was released, and Saburomaru Distillery was the model for the distillery featured in the film.
Image Source: Saburomaru Distillery｜Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
In 2019, we developed the world’s first cast distiller, ZEMON, in collaboration with Oigo Seisakusho, a master distiller of Buddhist bell making.
| Fiscal Year | Malt | Mash tongue | Yeast | Fermentation tank | Still |
| Before 2016 | Highland peat | Half century ago saccharification tank | Yale only | Enamel | Old |
| 2017 | Yale + whisky | Old Modified | |||
| 2018 | Miyake Manufacturing | ||||
| 2019 | ZEMON | ||||
| 2020 |
Highland Pete |
enamel wooden bucket |
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| 2021 | Mature ale + whisky |
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| 2022 | Hollow Wooden vat x 2 |
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| 2023 | Miyake Mfg. 3rd wort | Pressed yeast + Ale + whisky |
A brief distillery timeline. New equipment and products are being introduced every year, and it is rumored that a milling building will be built in 2025. It is rumored that a milling building will be built in 2025.
| Location | 939-1308, Tonami, Toyama, Japan 208 Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Access | From Shin-Takaoka Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, take the JR Jouhana Line and get off at Aburaden Station. 1 minute walk from the station. |
| Start of operation | 1953 (renovated in 2016) |
| Official HP | Wakatsuru Shuzo Saburomaru Distillery |
| Tours | Tours are available. Reservations required through the tour page on the website. |
| Products | Sunshine whisky, Single Malt Saburomaru, Moonglow |
4. at the end
Saburomaru Distillery’s FAR EAST OF PEAT BATCH series continues to produce a variety of peaty whiskies under the theme of “Mastering Peat”.
Following the 6th BATCH, this is a blend with Scotch malt.
The year of distillation at ZEMON is also 2020, so if you have 6th BATCH, this might be a good opportunity to compare them.
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.
