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Saburoumaru distillery was revived by crowdfunding in 2017.

The “Saburoumaru 0 THE FOOL” was brewed using a mash tun made more than half a century ago and a 30-year-old distiller that was modified before the introduction of the current Miyake Mash Tun and ZEMON cast pod still. 

The label design is based on the Tarot cards (22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), and the number 0 of the 22 Major Arcana, “The Fool” was used for the label to signify that the company was starting from scratch.

The Bottle



50PPM, heavy peated

The peat is assertive from the aroma to the taste. You can feel the peat from the moment you put it in your mouth until the aftertaste. At first, it is a little alcoholic and violent, but after a while, it becomes a little milder and the woodiness of the bourbon barrel and vanilla appear. At the end, a good amount of peatiness remains and goes through the nose.

Limited edition of 2,000 bottles.

Our Take

Comparing 50ppm of Saburoumaru 0 and 53ppm of Saburoumaru 1, Saburoumaru 0 is the one where you can feel the peat strongly (clearly), while Saburoumaru 1 is the one where the sweetness of the fruit and the richness of the lactic acid system come forward as if it is clear and refined, so you feel “sweet” the moment you put it in your mouth. In the aftertaste, the peat overtakes the sweetness and asserts itself, and I feel that the sweetness and peat are well finished.

In comparison, Saburomaru 0 is less sweet, so the peat and maltiness are the main flavor. It also has a slight minty freshness to it. This is a flavor that I think some people might be addicted to. 

The Saburoumaru distillery is said to be getting better and better every year.
The single malt Saburoumaru that will be released next year is finally distilled in the cast pod still “ZEMON”. We can’t wait to see what kind of flavor it will have.

In addition, Mr. Inagaki, the blender and manager of Sabromaru Distillery, started a bottlers business called “T&T TOYAMA” together with Mr. Shimono of single malt mail order malt yama. It is attracting a lot of attention as the world’s first Japanese whisky bottlers business.

When I visited the distillery, I talked to him, and he was a very active person with a strong passion for monozukuri. I’m looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us next.

(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)

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