Where is Wakatsuru Saburomaru?

Wakatsuru Saburomaru is located in Tonami (Saburomaru) Toyama Japan.

What does Wakatsuru Saburomaru produce?

Wakatsuru Saburomaru produces or represents products such as Japanese whisky, single malt, peated whisky, craft distillery, whisky producer.

Where can I buy products from Wakatsuru Saburomaru?

You can buy products from Wakatsuru Saburomaru directly on Bottle of Italy, on the dedicated producer page.

Distillery

Wakatsuru Saburomaru

Explore the spirits, production style and story of Wakatsuru Saburomaru.

Wakatsuru Saburomaru (also known as Saburomaru) is the brand/steam distillery for the Wakatsuru Shuzo group's whisky production, located in Saburomaru, Tonami (Toyama prefecture, Japan). It is known for its craft approach to single malt and for the use of the original fused still "ZEMON".

Japanese whisky single malt peated whisky craft distillery whisky producer

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What to know about Wakatsuru Saburomaru

Type Distillery

Region Tonami (Saburomaru) , Toyama , Japan

Founded 1952

Products from 1

Unique fused still "ZEMON": a pot still cast in a copper‑tin alloy developed locally. Established history: parent group Wakatsuru Shuzo active since 1862 and whisky production since 1952. Relaunch and renovation of Saburomaru Distillery starting in 2016/2017 with a craft approach. Strong orientation toward peated profiles ('The Ultimate Peat'). Offers tours with hand-fill experiences and the possibility to bottle directly from the barrel. Launch of the specialist bottler activity T&T TOYAMA in 2021.

Producer range

Producer range Wakatsuru Saburomaru

Spirit categories

Japanese whisky single malt peated whisky craft distillery whisky producer

Representative products

Whisky Single Malt The High Priestess 70cl - Wakatsuru Saburomaru

Raw materials

barley malt peat-smoked malt

Casks and ageing vessels

Mizunara (Japanese oak) ex-bourbon Oloroso / Spanish oak (finish noted on some releases)

Distillation and production

Production method

Craft production with fire‑heated pot still distillation. Use of the fused still ZEMON, made from a copper‑tin alloy, introduced as a local innovation; in commercial practice a double distillation is reported (first in a traditional copper still, second with the ZEMON fused still). Maturation in casks and hand‑fill practices are used for direct bottling experiences on some products.

Distillation

Pot still (fire‑heated); use of the fused still "ZEMON" (copper‑tin alloy). Double distillation as reported on commercial product datasheets.

Ageing

Aging in casks; the company has developed and uses local mizunara casks (production of "三四郎樽" - mizunara casks), in addition to traditional barrel regimes and various finishes depending on releases.

Producer history Wakatsuru Saburomaru

Whisky production at the parent facility began in 1952. The house Wakatsuru Shuzo, active in sake production since 1862, relaunched and renovated the plant as Saburomaru Distillery between 2016 and 2017 through a restructuring project and public support; it subsequently introduced technical innovations and commercial initiatives related to whisky (including the T&T TOYAMA project for bottling and onsite shop activities).

Production philosophy

Combining tradition and innovation: preserving the local history of alcohol production while developing techniques and products that reflect the territory. The producer's public message emphasizes the search for "The Ultimate Peat" (a strong focus on heavily peated whisky profiles) and the desire to create "whiskies that can exist only in Toyama".

Territory

Tonami (Saburomaru), Toyama prefecture, Hokuriku region, Japan.

Awards and recognitions

Silver — World Whiskies Awards 2025 (mention for a Saburomaru release: 'IV The Emperor').