Wakatsuru Brewery’s Saburomaru Distillery will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the start of its whisky business in 2022.
To celebrate their 70th anniversary, Saburoumaru Distillery is running a commemorative campaign!
This article contains an introduction to Saburo-Maru Distillery, Saburomaru Distillery’s products, an overview of the campaign, and how to apply. Please read to the end!
1. Manufacturer
Wakatsuru Sake Brewery Co.
| Established | 1862 |
| Head office location | 208 Saburomaru, Tonami-shi, Toyama 939-1308, Japan |
| Owned distillery | Saburomaru Distillery |
1-2. Distillery
Sabromaru Distillery
| Location | 208 Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture 939-1308, Japan |
| Start of operation | 1953 (renovated in 2016) |
The only distillery in Hokuriku, established in 1952.
With the shortage of rice after the war, they obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952. Since then, the distillery has been making sake in the winter and distilling whisky only in the summer. The annual production is 200 bottles. They are planning to make 300 in the future.
Since the beginning of its operation, the company has been dedicated to producing smoky whisky, using Islay peated malt and more recently peated malt from Toyama Prefecture. In order to keep the natural flavors alive, 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 Manufacturing, to develop a cast pod still called ZEMON.
In 2020, one wooden vat fermenter will be installed.
The main difference from other distilleries is the world’s first cast pod still. ZEMON, the world’s first cast pod still. 
There are three main features.
(1) The casting method makes it possible to mold the product using a mold, which allows for a quick turnaround time. Also, the product can be made thick enough at a low cost, which is expected to increase the service life of the product.
(2) Various liquor quality is realized by free molding by casting. In addition, it is possible to replace only worn-out parts or expand functions by unitizing each part.
(3) Made from a copper-tin alloy that contains 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 mellowing the taste of alcohol. It is said that tin is a high-grade metal that sells for about three times the price of copper, and has been used for liquor containers and shochu coolers. ZEMON contributes to the production of high quality spirits through the dual effects of copper and tin. to the production of high-quality spirits. It has been used for sake vessels and shochu coolers.
Reference: Wakatsuru Sake Brewery official website
See also this ↓ for more information on the Sanromaru Distillery.
2. Product Introduction
2-1. Single Malt Saburomaru
2-1-1. Single Malt Saburomaru 0 THE FOOL
The design of the label is based on Tarot cards (consisting of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), with the number 0 of the 22 Major Arcana, THE FOOL, meaning “I tried to start from scratch” .
2-1-2.Single Malt Saburomaru 1THE MAGICIAN
The label design is based on Tarot cards (consisting of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), and the first of the 22 Major Arcana cards, THE MAGICIAN, is used for the label to signify “taking a new step forward” . The label is adopted.
2-2. Jade Rabbit
The multi-layered aroma of Scotch grain and sherry malt, aged in roasting barrels, produced in the woodworking town of Inami.
2-3. Moonglow
2-3-1. Moonglow Crescent 2018
Blended using malt raw materials from the Saburomaru distillery and imported raw materials such as Scotch grain whisky.
Specially blended by examining raw spirits from a wide range of ages, including Saburomaru Distillery malt distilled in 1960 and Mizunara post-ripe grain from Toyama Prefecture.
2-3-2. Moonglow Limited Edition 2020.
The key malt is Saburoumaru Distillery malt distilled in 1990, and only raw materials with more than 10 years of aging are used. The mellow grain, finished in red wine barrels, and the sherry malt, which brings out the sweetness, blend exquisitely and lead to a gentle and smooth taste.
3. Campaign Summary
Thank you for your patience! Here is the outline of the campaign to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Saburomaru Distillery whisky production.
The general flow of the campaign is as follows: purchase a product with the applicable sticker on it, and access the application form using the QR code, ID, and password on the sticker. Enter your information in the application form to complete your application.
The campaign period is from March 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. The campaign is divided into two halves, the first half and the second half, each with a different winning product. The number of winners will be 7 per month, which means 7 winners per month for 10 months, for a total of 70 winners!
Also, the drawing will be held every month. Even if you missed out once, you still have a chance! Don’t forget to enter every month!
Image courtesy of Saburo Maru Distillery Official Facebook
As you can read from the photo above, the winning products are a very luxurious lineup, including THE MAGICIAN and other limited edition whiskys. In addition, on the right side of the picture, there are words saying “Coming soon…” . Is this a secret? You can’t miss this chance to win this gorgeous lineup every month! It’s a very exciting project!
The target products are as follows.
Products to be entered
FAR EAST OF PEAT 3rd BATCH (Limited Edition)
FAR EAST OF PEAT 4th BATCH (Limited Edition)
Jyunenmyou 7-Seven
Toyama Smoky Highball HARRY CRANES Craft Highball 3-Can Pack(As of February 25, 2022)
For more information about the campaign, please visit Saburo-Maru Distillery or the official online store “Me and ALC” .
For more information about the campaign, please visit the application website after purchasing the applicable products.
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.
