III The Empress 3y

About

Saburomaru Distillery, founded in 1952 in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, is the oldest whisky distillery in Japan's Hokuriku region. After decades producing sake and shochu, founder Takahiko Inagaki returned from an IT career in the US in 2015 to revive the family business. The Empress marks a turning point: Saburomaru's first single malt to use peated malt sourced from Scotland's Islay. Production follows a meticulous craft. The malt undergoes five days of fermentation, including two in fir tanks to develop layered aromatics. After double distillation in a Zemon still, the spirit matures in bourbon and sherry casks—a pairing that honours both Japanese precision and Scottish peat character. The Empress opens with intense peat smoke and maritime salt, revealing citrus peel, minerals, and woody notes. On the palate, pepper and ginger emerge alongside dried fruit, balanced by sweet vanilla and pear. The finish is elegant, with lingering charcoal smoke and black pepper that fade gradually.

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