Review of Kizakura Tamba Single Malt Bottled in 2024 2nd fromTamba Distillery by Kizakura Co.Features, price, and how to purchase.
Kizakura is a major sake maker, but now releases a wide variety of products, including beer and whiskey.
The whiskey produced by Kizakura was initially distilled in stainless steel tanks, but now that copper pot stills are in operation, production is expected to become even more serious.
Although the number of bottles produced is not large at present, the supply will increase a little in the future, and I believe that the company will definitely become one of Kyoto’s representative whiskey makers in the future.
*There is a confusingly named whiskey with the same name, Tamba, which we will introduce on this site,
KIZAKURA Whiskey Tamba. Please be careful not to make a mistake if you are thinking of purchasing this whisky.
1. photo of the bottle and the site where you can buy it
Kizakura Tamba Single Malt Bottled in 2024 2nd
Kizakura tamba single malt Bottled in 2024 2nd
2. kizakura tamba single malt Bottled in 2024 2nd Features
The blend was created under the supervision of two of Kizakura’s whiskey ambassadors, Akiteru Kitahata (owner of BAR Silver Moon) and Tetsuro Kuranuki (representative of BAR Lag Wagon). The key malt is a peat malt aged in sherry casks. The aroma is heavy, reminiscent of fireworks smoke and tanned leather, with flavors of honey toast and dried fruit, and lingering notes of spice and bitter chocolate.
Reference: Kizakura Tamba Distillery Whisky | Kizakura Tamba Single Malt Bottled in 2024 2nd
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Igusa, bluish smoke, ginjo-like aroma, spicy tropical fruits. |
| Taste | Dry pineapple, burnt caramel, high cocoa, gingerbread |
| Aftertaste | Spicy pepper and ginger flavors linger on the palate, with a woody oak-like aroma and a long-lasting astringent finish. |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 47% alcohol by volume |
| By Sake | Single Malt Japanese Whiskey |
| Cask type | Key malt: Sherry peated casks |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited quantity |
| Suggested Retail Price | 9,900 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | November 2024 |
3. Awards
No awards received at this time.
4. List price and online price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Kizakura Tamba Single Malt Bottled in 2024 1st |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 9,900 yen (including tax) |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale price on Mercari cannot be confirmed at this time. (*As of 10/30/2024)
4-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auctions
Sold bids on Yahoo! A uctions could not be confirmed at present. Past series have been sold. (*As of 10/30/2024)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
No items were confirmed to be on sale at mail-order sites. (*As of 10/30/2024)
4-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, one glass is offered at 45 ml: 3,300 yen, 30 ml: 2,200 yen, and 15 ml: 1,100 yen.
5.What is Yellow Cherry Blossom Co.
| Company name | Yellow Cherry Blossom Co. |
| Established | October 1925 |
| Head office address | 223 Shioyamachi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 612-8046, Japan |
| Owned distillery | Kizakura Tamba Distillery |
6. What is Tamba Distillery?
| Name of distillery | Kizakura Tamba Distillery |
| Location | 1-19 Honjo Dogaya, Imada-cho, Tamba-Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Start of operation | 2018 |
We have been producing local beer for a long time, and using the procurement route of the raw materials, we are working on the selection of raw materials to achieve the ideal aroma and taste of the original sake. The malt used is English, both peated and non peated.
The wort is optimally prepared for whisky by utilizing the beer production technology that we began in 1998 as the first microbrewery in Kyoto. The fermentation of the malt is managed by a toji (master brewer), and the company makes full use of its unique fermentation technology cultivated in sake brewing, including the use of various yeasts such as sake yeast. The fermentation tanks are two wooden fermentation tanks made by Garberotto of Italy and four open-type hollow tanks. The duration of unrefining is 4 to 7 days.
In 2021, a copper pot still made by Forsyth in Scotland was introduced. First distillation: 2,500L straight type Second distillation: 2,000L bulge type
The distillery is located at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level, surrounded by mountains rich in nature and deep greenery known as the “Tamba Forest. The annual temperature difference is 30 degrees Celsius, and the distillery is shrouded in fog in the mornings, where maturation takes place in the humid air polished by the mountains.
The casks used for maturing include not only bourbon casks, but also new casks, litchi casks, various sherry casks, oak casks, and many other types of casks.
The Tamba Distillery Newborn Non Pete Sherry Cask Aged 19 Months won the Category Winner award at the World Whisky Awards 2024.
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| 2004 | Licensed to produce single-strain shochu, distillation begins at the Tamba Distillery site. Began production of authentic shochu with a single stainless steel pot still. |
| 2006 | Changed the company name to Yellow Cherry Blossom Co. |
| 2018 | Obtained license to manufacture whiskey. Began production. |
| 2021. | Released Hana Monogatari, a Yellow Cherry craft gin. Installed two Forsyth distillers and began full-scale whiskey production. |
| 2024 | Yellow Cherry single malt whiskey “Tamba” and Yellow Cherry blended malt whiskey “Sakura Chronos” are released. |
7. Summary
The price range is quite reasonable for a domestic single malt. Since the number of bottles produced is not large, it may be difficult to obtain, but if you see it in a store, you may purchase it.
Tamba Distillery has been attracting attention as their “Tamba Distillery Newborn Non-Peat Sherry Cask Aged 19 Months” distilled in the Forsyth pot still currently in operation won the “Category Winner” at the “WWA2024”.
We can’t wait to see how the whiskey made from this latest still will turn out.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
