“Sabu.” blended whisky from Saburomaru Distillery A new limited edition from the series is now available.This is the third small batch whisky following SUNSET RED and NIGHT BLACK, the perennial products of the series.
Saburomaru Distillery is one of the distilleries that produce and sell peated whisky under the slogan “The Ultimate Peat” and has many fans in Japan because of its outstanding smokiness.
This SAB. series is one that incorporates the distillery’s challenge to create a blended whisky that accounts for the majority of its sales volume in the world, the establishment of a smoky brand, globally conscious bottles and naming, environmentally conscious whisky making, etc.
It is a bottle that incorporates Saburomaru’s know-how as a brand.
１．Photos of bottles and labels
Sub. Ocean Blue 1st Batch
SAB. OCEAN BLUE 1st BTCH
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２．SAB. OCEAN BLUE 1st BTCH Features
SAB. was born in December 2024 as a blended whisky produced by Saburomaru Distillery. Under Saburomaru’s mission of “Standing in the world based on the region,” the distillery has released the “SUNSET RED,” “NIGHT BLACK,” and “SNOW WHITE (Hokuriku only)” series.
OCEAN BLUE 1ST BATCH is Saburomaru’s top blended whisky, harmoniously blending deeply aged grain whisky with powerful Saburomaru malts blended from a variety of bourbon, sherry, and wine casks.
Enjoy the profound and rich flavor.
Nose: Strong peat, ash, candied apples, dried mirin, hints of honey, smoked wood, faint pepper, wax from extinguished candles.
Taste: round and smooth, tongue-coating ash and firm acidity, powerful peat, honeyed apples, firm woodiness, seaweed. The finish is elegant and mildly woody and peat warming.
quote：“SAB.OCEAN BLUE 1ST BATCH” Release | Press Release from Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd.
２-１．Tasting Notes
| fragrance | Fresh sea peat, cinders, green apple, white pepper, agave syrup |
| flavor | Smoked salmon, lime-like citrus, pink pepper, tide, fresh sweetness |
| Afterglow | A light, smoky peat with woody nuances that linger for a long time. |
２-２．Product Specs
| Alcohol content (usu. Expressed per cent) | 46% |
| By Alcohol Type | Blended whisky |
| Barrel Type | Bourbon casks, sherry casks, wine casks |
| Quantity of content | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 8,000 bottles |
| MSRP | 9,900 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | September 2025 |
３．Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
４．List price and online price
４-１．Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
| Trade (brand) name | SAB. OCEAN BLUE |
| Quantity of content | 700ml |
| MSRP | 9,900 yen (tax included) |
４-２．Resale prices on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari range from around 13,900 yen to 21,000 yen. (*As of 9/9/2025)
It is still available near the list price, so there is no need to buy it on Mercari.
４-３．Yahoo! Auctions winning bid price
Sold on Yahoo! Auctions price is not confirmed at this time. The listing was for a fixed price.
(*as of 7/1/2025)
４-４．Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
On Rakuten and other online shopping sites, we confirmed that the product was listed at almost the list price. (*As of 9/9/2024)
４-５．Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, one glass is offered at 45 ml: 2,640 yen, 30 ml: 1,760 yen, and 15 ml: 880 yen.
５．Manufacturer
Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
| Establishment | 1862 |
| Location of the Agency | 208, Saburomaru, Tonami, Toyama 939-1308, Japan |
| All Evaporator Shelters | Saburomaru Distillery |
６．What is Saburomaru Distillery?
Saburomaru Distillery
| Location | 208, Saburomaru, Tonami, Toyama 939-1308, Japan |
| Commencing operations | 1953 (revamped in 2016) |
The only distillery in Hokuriku, established in 1952.
Amid the postwar rice shortage, the company obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952.Since then, they brew sake in winter and distill whisky during the rest of the year. The company makes 200 bottles of whisky a year.Plans are underway for 300 preparations in the future.
Since the beginning of its operation, the company has been committed to smoky whisky and uses Islay peated malt, Highland peated malt, and more recently, peated malt from Toyama Prefecture. In order to preserve the natural flavor, no cooling filtration or coloring is used.
2018 The newest mash tan from Miyake Mfg. Co.
2019 In collaboration with a local company, Oigo Seisakusho, the company developed a cast pod still called “ZEMON．”
2020 One wooden fermentation tank was installed.
The main difference from other distilleries is the use of ZEMON, the world’s first cast pod still.
There are three major features.
①The casting method enables mold forming and quick delivery. Also, sufficient wall thickness can be provided at low cost, and a longer service life can be expected.
②Various qualities of sake are realized by free molding by casting. In addition, the unitization of individual parts allows for replacement of worn parts only and expansion of functions.
③It is made of a copper-tin alloy containing about 90% copper and 8% tin. Tin is a high-grade metal that is traded at about three times the price of copper.
Tin has been used since ancient times to mellow the taste of sake and has been used in sake vessels and shochu coolers. zemon contributes to the production of high quality spirits through the dual effects of copper and tin.
quote：Wakatsuru Shuzo Official Website
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See also ↓ for information on the Saburomaru Distillery.
７．summary
SAB. OCEAN BLUE is the successor to the Saburomaru distillery’s blended whisky “THE SUN”. It is the highest blended whisky from the Saburomaru distillery.
I got the impression that plenty of super-aged grain, wine barrels, and sherry barrels were also used. Please try this unique blended expression of Saburomaru Distillery.
■Please check out other articles about “Saburomaru Distillery” as well.
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.
