Saburomaru 'The Empress / The Fool' Single Malt

Saburomaru (Wakatsuru Shuzo) · Toyama (Tonami)
Alcohol Whisky Alcohol Growing export

Saburomaru Distillery, operated by sake/shochu house Wakatsuru Shuzo in Tonami, Toyama, has made whisky since 1952 and renovated in 2016 to specialize in heavily peated single malt, unusual in Japan. It pioneered the cast-bronze 'ZEMON' pot still and experiments with local Toyama mizunara casks and barley. Through the T&T Toyama / Japanese Whisky Cellar venture it distributes to Europe (UK, France and more) and offers distillery-exclusive bottlings. Its peated, Toyama-terroir profile differentiates it among craft Japanese malts.

The supplierTonami (Toyama) distillery under Wakatsuru Shuzo; whisky since 1952; ZEMON bronze still; peated, mizunara-cask experimentation.
Why it sells abroadRare heavily peated Japanese malt; proprietary ZEMON bronze still; Toyama mizunara casks; T&T Toyama export venture.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsHalal: not publicly verified. Organic-JAS: not publicly verified. Kosher: not publicly verified. HACCP/FSSC 22000: not publicly verified. (confirmed) Wakatsuru Shuzo (est. 1862; Saburomaru Distillery, Tonami, Toyama) restarted distillation in 2017; 'The Fool 0' (2020) and 'The Empress' (Islay-peated) releases confirmed. Distillery license assumed.
Pack formats700ml bottles; distillery-exclusive single casks; case packs (draft retained)
Shelf lifeLong / stable (distilled spirit)
StorageAmbient; keep upright, sealed, away from heat/light
Minimum orderTypical: allocation/case via importer
Lead timeTypical: release/allocation-driven
CapacityGrowing - small craft distillery scaling output
Container loadTypical: ambient mixed container via importer
PricingPremium peated single malt tier
OEM / private labelNo.
Wholesale & MOQWholesale via Japanese Whisky Cellar / T&T Toyama and EU specialist importers
Key exporters & distributorsJapanese Whisky Cellar (T&T Toyama), Whiskies du Monde (FR), specialist EU/AU importers
Export regulationUK/EU spirit drinks rules and duty; Japanese whisky labeling self-standard
Market demandStrong collector/specialist demand in EU/UK/AU
How to source itSaburomaru/Wakatsuru -> Skurnik Wines & Spirits (US) / EU importers -> specialist retail (confirmed)
Verified sourceshttps://www.skurnik.com/sku/cask-strength-single-malt-whisky-saburomaru-iii-the-empress-wakatsuru-shuzo-2/; https://www.nomunication.jp/2024/10/31/the-saburomaru-distillery-comes-of-age-2x-single-cask-reviews/
MakerWakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Saburomaru Distillery)
OriginToyama (Tonami)
CategoryAlcohol / Whisky
Available inUnited Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia
HandlingAlcohol
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code2208.30
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.