Distillery
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".
- Tonami (Saburomaru) · Toyama · Japan
- Since 1952
- 1 product
The story
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 recognition
Silver — World Whiskies Awards 2025 (mention for a Saburomaru release: 'IV The Emperor').
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.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Tonami (Saburomaru)
- Categories
- Japanese whisky
- single malt
- peated whisky
- craft distillery
- whisky producer
- Raw materials
- barley malt
- peat-smoked malt
- Casks and ageing vessels
- Mizunara (Japanese oak)
- ex-bourbon
- Oloroso / Spanish oak (finish noted on some releases)
- Representative products
- Whisky Single Malt The High Priestess 70cl - Wakatsuru Saburomaru
What makes it distinctive
- 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.