Yamazakura Blended Whisky

A youthful expression from an ancient Japanese distiller.

Sasanokawa Shuzo has been making Saki and Shochu since 1765. They added Whisky production to their core line-up in 1946. The family is considered an honorable one, and Japanese Whisky fans might remember that Hanyu / Ichiro went bankrupt, Sasanokawa Shuzo came to the rescue to save the inventory. Today they still produce their popular line of classic Japanese Spirits on site, along with a range of Whisky brands distilled locally and acquired.

Yamazakura Blended Whiskey is a bit of a mystery. Traditional, old-school Japanese businesses keep their sources and techniques very quiet. So, the exact mix of grains and Spirits are unknown. But the general consensus is that it is a blend of four different Single Malts and a smaller part of grain Whiskies. This is also an NAS Whisky (Non-Age Statement) — this is fairly common in blends. But based upon the aromas and flavors, we are going to guess it’s relatively youthful… perhaps three to five years. But you taste for yourself. All in all, it is an interesting example of Japanese Spirits from a storied producer.

Smartass Corner:
Both Saki and Shochu are classic Japanese Spirits, but people often get them confused. Saki is a brewed Spirits made exclusively from rice. At 15-18% ABV, it is akin to rice Wine. Shochu is a distilled Spirit that can be made from several ingredients. At 25-30% ABV, it is closer to an un-aged Whiskey.