First release of two carefully selected whiskys that have undergone three years of maturation in the company’s own storage facility.
T&T TOYAMA Corporation (headquartered in Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture) is pleased to announce the first release of two carefully selected whiskys that have been purchased from craft distilleries (new pots) around Japan since its establishment in 2021 and aged for three years in its own storage facilities.
The two products to be released this time are named “EPISODE 0 (Episode Zero),” which is a departure from “zero” for T&T TOYAMA and the “O” in “ORIGIN,” which means origin. The “O” in “ORIGIN” means origin, and the product is a fitting first step in the global dissemination of Japanese whisky culture.
１．Single Malt Japanese Whisky EPISODE 0 Eigashima Distillery
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1-1．Product Specs
Alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) 59.1% By Alcohol Type Single Malt Japanese Whisky Raw materials Malt Types of Barrels First fill bourbon barrel aged 3 years Quantity of content 700ml Number of bottles Limited edition of 247 pieces (Japan and overseas combined) Price 18,000 yen (tax not included)
Tasting Notes
Fragrance：White chocolate with a small amount of honey, vanilla with a little old oak oakyness, apples,slight dried mushrooms and menthol, chocolate cereal.
Flavor：The mouthfeel is softer than the impression of the alcohol content, but the bitter, powerful woodiness pushes in later. Mild honey, kelp.
Woody and slightly spicy on the back end.
A slight powderiness lingers on the tongue.
Overall Evaluation：This is a bottle with a woody character firmly expressed in the sense of balance that is typical of Eigashima.
２．Single Malt Japanese Whisky EPISODE 0 Ontake Distillery
2－1．Product Specs
| Alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) | 59.3% |
| By type of alcohol | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Raw materials | Malt |
| Types of Barrels | First fill bourbon barrel aged 3 years |
| Quantity of content | 700ml |
| Number of bottles | Limited edition of 217 pieces (Japan and overseas combined) |
| Price | 18,000 yen (tax not included) |
Tasting Notes
Fragrance：Rich honey and vanilla, luxurious syrup. Steamed sweet potatoes, slightly boiled corn cobs and plum paste.
Flavor：Smooth and slightly light. Honey, apple and vanilla with gentle candied canlo nuances.
Little clutter and a mild spiciness pervades.
The finish is clean and pleasantly woody with vanilla.
Overall Evaluation：This bottle honestly expresses the clean and smooth sake quality typical of Ontake.
3．T＆T TOYAMA
“T&T TOYAMA” is a joint project by “Inagaki Takahiko” (T) and “Shimono Tadaaki” in 2021, based on the idea of introducing the appeal of whisky from Toyama Prefecture to the world, and following the lead of the ideal Scottish grand-established bottlers. T and Shimono Tadaaki will start the project.
In 2022, we are building a new aging warehouse in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.
Not only does it contribute to the initial capital recovery of new distilleries, but it also communicates the diversity and appeal of whisky to people in Japan and abroad through the release of products matured in an environment different from that of official products.
In the future, we will also collaborate with small and medium-sized distilleries in Japan to promote new developments that will broaden the base of whisky culture around the world.
4．Related Distillery Information
SABUROMARU DISTILLERY
| Location | 208 Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Commencement of Operations | 1953 (revised in 2016) |
Wakatsuru Shuzo, which operates the Saburomaru Distillery, is a very old sake brewery in Hokuriku, having started sake production in 1862 in Saburomaru Village, Tonami County, Toyama Prefecture.
After the end of World War II, in order to break out of a deadlocked situation, the company conducted its own research on distilled spirits production and obtained a license to produce whisky in 1952.We began selling “Sunshine Whisky” in Toyama Prefecture in 1953.
Image source.：Saburomaru Distillery｜Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
In 2016, more than 60 years after the first whisky was made, the distillery was aging.We cannot let the only distillery in Hokuriku and the whisky making business that has continued until now die out. Therefore, we launched the “Saburomaru Distillery Renovation Project” and challenged crowdfunding in order to secure funds.
With the passion for Whisky making that has been preserved for over 60 years and the challenge to make Toyama Whisky into a world-class Whisky, the Saburomaru Distillery received 38,255,000 yen in support, far exceeding the 25 million yen goal. In 2017, the Saburomaru Distillery was reopened as a Whisky distillery after renovating its building and production facilities.
In 2023, an animated film titled “Welcome to Komada Distillery” will be released, and the distillery featured in the film is modeled after Saburomaru Distillery.
Image source.：Saburomaru Distillery｜Wakatsuru Shuzo Co.
In 2019, we developed the world’s first cast distiller, “ZEMON”, in collaboration with Oigo Manufacturing, a master bell-maker.
| Year (e.g. school year, fiscal year) | Malt | Mash Tan | Yeast | Fermentation tank | Sstill (picture) | Other facilities, etc. |
| Before 2016 | highland peat | Half-century-old saccharification tank | Yale only | Enamel | Old | |
| 2017 | Ale + Whisky | Old transformation | ||||
| 2018 | Miyake Manufacturing | |||||
| 2019 | ZEMON | |||||
| 2020 |
Highland Pete |
Enameled wooden tub |
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| 2021 | Mature Ale + Whisky |
Installed roof sprinkler system | ||||
| 2022 | Enamel Wooden tub x 2 |
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| 2023 |
Miyake Manufacturing |
Pressed yeast + Ale + Whisky | ||||
| 2024 | Blender room completed. | |||||
| 2025 | Balinci Blender Experience RE:COOPERAGE Start |
Distillery Details
To learn more about the distillery, click here.↓
https://en.jpwhisky.net/saburomarudistillery-2-47482/
See also ↓ for information on the Sabromaru Distillery.
https://en.jpwhisky.net/manufacturer/saburomaru_en/
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.
