Saburomaru III The Empress - 2020/2023 - Heavily Islay Peated

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Saburomaru III The Empress is the first release in the series to use malt kilned with Islay peat. The heavily peated malt has a phenol content of 50 ppm. Distilled in 2020, the single malt was bottled in 2023 at 48% in 0.7-litre bottles; it is non-chill-filtered and contains no added colouring.

Production involved a wooden washback as well as ale and whisky yeasts. The distillery introduced the Douglas fir washback in 2020 to facilitate a later stage of lactic acid fermentation driven by the wood’s own microflora. As the fourth release in the series named after tarot cards, the whisky bears the motif of Major Arcana III, “The Empress”. The paper-cut artwork was created by Toyama-born artist Yukie Kano. The 48% version was limited to 12,000 bottles.

Powerful, dry peat contrasts with vanilla, Japanese pear and pineapple. Young wood, pepper, saline and mineral impressions, root vegetables and a hint of seaweed broaden the clear, smooth profile. Gentle sweetness and lingering smoke come together in the finish.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals young wood and wood shavings, vanilla, powerful dry peat with a mossy nuance, peppercorns, Japanese pear, root vegetables, pineapple and a hint of kombu.
• Palate: Despite its 48% strength, the whisky feels relatively gentle on the palate. A touch of salt, powerful peat smoke, mild sweetness, Japanese pear, a mineral and bitter nigari note, young wood and a hint of kombu shape the flavour.
• Finish: Gentle sweetness and peat smoke emerge in the finish. The sweetness fades first, while acidity, salinity and smoke linger for a long time.

Distillery/Bottler:

Saburomaru Distillery is located in Tonami, Toyama Prefecture, and belongs to Wakatsuru Shuzo. Founded in 1862, the company began making whisky in 1952 and long followed a seasonal rhythm: sake was brewed in winter and whisky distilled in summer. Following an extensive renovation, the distillery made a fresh start in 2017.

In 2019, the distillery developed the ZEMON pot still together with bell foundry Oigo Seisakusho. Derived from the traditional Takaoka casting technique, the still is made from a copper-tin alloy and is regarded as the world’s first cast pot still of its kind. Wakatsuru Shuzo produces The Empress at Saburomaru Distillery, and the whisky is released as an official bottling.

Facts: